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painful; bitter; heart-breaking; difficult (emotionally)
tough; difficult; hard (usu. of situations)
cruel; harsh; cold
一人で抱え込むのはつらい。
It's hard to bear it all alone.
一人で待つのはつらかった。
Waiting alone was hard.
風邪で体がつらいんです。
I'm feeling rough because of a cold.