Emotionally painful, bitter, or heartbreaking; causing emotional distress.
親友を亡くしたのは本当につらい経験だった。
Losing a close friend was really a painful experience.
試験に落ちたときのつらい気持ちは忘れられない。
I can't forget how painful I felt when I failed the exam.
毎日の介護は精神的につらいことが多い。
Daily caregiving is often emotionally tough.
Tough or difficult (usually of situations or tasks); hard to cope with, physically or mentally demanding.
この仕事は肉体的にもつらいが、やりがいがある。
This job is physically demanding, but it's rewarding.
病気で働けない期間が続き、生活がつらくなった。
Unable to work due to illness for a long time, life became hard.
長時間の立ち仕事は腰にくるし、本当につらい。
Long hours of standing work strain my back; it's really tough.
Cruel, harsh, or cold in attitude or behavior.
上司のあのつらい言い方は、部下にはきつすぎる。
That harsh way the boss speaks is too much for the subordinates.
そんなに厳しく責めるのはつらいと思う。
I think blaming someone that harshly is cruel.