synonym Comparative
吸う
VS
苦しい
Differences Between "吸う" and "苦しい"
Option A
吸う
Meaning
to breathe in, to inhale, to smoke
Reading
すう (suu)
Syllabus Level
N4
Practical Example
新鮮な空気を大きく吸いました。
I took a big breath of fresh air.
Option B
苦しい
Meaning
painful; difficult; tough; tight; hard to breathe
Reading
くるしい (kurushii)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
急な坂道を全力で駆け上がったため、彼は息が_______なり、しばらくその場にしゃがみ込んで呼吸を整えました。
Because he ran up a steep slope with all his might, his breathing became painful, and he squatted down there for a while to adjust his breathing.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(to breathe in, to inhale, to smoke)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 吸う: Commonly used for 'to breathe in' (息を吸う) and 'to smoke (a cigarette)' (タバコを吸う). It can also mean 'to sip' or 'to suck' in certain contexts, but breathing and smoking are the most frequent N4 uses.
- 苦しい: Refers to physical pain/difficulty in breathing, or mental distress/financial tightness. Often used as 息が苦しい or 苦しい家計. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Painful! "My heart is painful because I love you too much, Haruka-san!" ...っ! T-To feel painful love! B-But since my chest is also painful with love for you, let's cure it with a tight, sweet hug! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『くるしい（苦しい）よ！『ハルカさんへの愛が大きすぎて、胸が苦しいです！』って…っ！そんな甘い胸の苦しみを訴えるなんてバカ！…私の胸もあんたへの愛で苦しいんだから、今すぐギュッとして治しなさい！』
- 吸う: Commonly used for 'to breathe in' (息を吸う) and 'to smoke (a cigarette)' (タバコを吸う). It can also mean 'to sip' or 'to suck' in certain contexts, but breathing and smoking are the most frequent N4 uses.
- 苦しい: Refers to physical pain/difficulty in breathing, or mental distress/financial tightness. Often used as 息が苦しい or 苦しい家計. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Painful! "My heart is painful because I love you too much, Haruka-san!" ...っ! T-To feel painful love! B-But since my chest is also painful with love for you, let's cure it with a tight, sweet hug! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『くるしい（苦しい）よ！『ハルカさんへの愛が大きすぎて、胸が苦しいです！』って…っ！そんな甘い胸の苦しみを訴えるなんてバカ！…私の胸もあんたへの愛で苦しいんだから、今すぐギュッとして治しなさい！』
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