1Emotionally painful, heartbreaking, or distressing — used for feelings of grief, loss, disappointment, or other emotional anguish. Often written in kana to distinguish from 辛い (からい, "spicy").
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 a truly painful experience.
彼女に振られて、しばらくつらい日々が続いた。
After she broke up with me, painful days went on for a while.
あの時のことを思い出すと、今でもつらい。
Whenever I remember what happened back then, it still hurts.
ペットが亡くなったときの悲しみは、言葉にできないほどつらかった。
The sadness when my pet died was painful beyond words.
2Tough, hard, or grueling — said of situations, work, or circumstances that are physically or mentally demanding and hard to endure.
病気で働けない期間が続き、生活がつらくなった。
After a long stretch of being unable to work due to illness, life became hard.
長時間の立ち仕事は腰にきて、本当につらい。
Long hours of standing work hurt my back — it's really rough.
今月は残業ばかりでつらい。
This month has been nothing but overtime — it's brutal.
夏の暑さの中、坂道を登るのはつらい。
Climbing a hill in the summer heat is grueling.
3Cold, harsh, or cruel — describing someone's attitude or behavior toward others as unfeeling. Somewhat literary or old-fashioned in this sense.
彼はあの時、私につらく当たった。
He treated me harshly back then.
そんなにつらい言い方をしなくてもいいのに。
You don't have to put it so harshly.