苦(くる)しいpainful, difficult, tough, hard, distressing, (psychologically) difficult, stressful, awkward (e.g. position), straitened (circumstances), tight (financial situation), needy, struggling, strained (interpretation, explanation, etc.), lame (e.g. excuse), forced (e.g. smile), far-fetched, hard to do, unpleasant

マラソンを終(お)えて苦(くる)しいです。

I feel painful after finishing the marathon.

カウンセラーに苦(くる)しい胸(むね)の内(うち)を語(かた)りました。

I spoke to the counselor about the painful feelings in my heart.

激(はげ)しい咳(せ)き込(こ)みで苦(くる)しくて涙(なみだ)が出(で)てきてしまいました。

I was in so much pain from the intense coughing that tears started to come out.

苦(くる)しい訓練(くんれん)に耐(た)えた甲斐(かい)あって、無事(ぶじ)に自衛隊(じえいたい)に所属(しょぞく)出来(でき)ました。

Thanks to enduring the painful training, I was able to join the Self-Defense Forces safely.

通勤(つうきん)ラッシュの時(とき)に満員(まんいん)の乗客(じょうきゃく)に押(お)された時(とき)は胸(むね)が苦(くる)しかったのなんのって…。

During the rush hour commute, when I was pushed by the crowd of passengers, it was so painful...