hardship
/ˈhɑːdʃɪp/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärd-ˌship/ (ame, mw)
hardship — noun
- hardshipsingular
- hardshipsplural
1. a condition of severe difficulty in life, especially when you lack money, food,
a condition of severe difficulty in life, especially when you lack money, food, or other necessities that most people depend on
The family faced great hardship after the factory closed and wages stopped.
collocation: face / endure hardship
Mizuki's family endured many hardships during the years of war and displacement.
hardship as countable noun (many hardships)
Many people in the region live in hardship, with little clean water or medical care.
Tamar saw the hardship in her grandmother's eyes when she spoke of the past.
The new policy was designed to reduce economic hardship for retired workers.
- adversity
more formal; emphasises a difficult situation that opposes or works against you; often used in literary or formal contexts
- difficulty
more general and less severe; covers any challenge or problem, from minor to serious
- deprivation
specifically focuses on the lack of basic necessities such as food, shelter, or medical care
- suffering
emphasises the physical or emotional pain that results from hardship
- comfort
a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or worry
- prosperity
the state of being successful and having enough money and good living conditions
文法句型
hardship + of + noun phrase
hardship + for + person/group
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable when referring to the general condition (e.g. "a life of hardship"), but countable when listing specific difficulties (e.g. "the hardships of war"). Often used in formal or serious contexts rather than for everyday minor problems.