hardship

This term conveys a sense of enduring struggle, often linked to systemic poverty or environmental adversity. It suggests a prolonged state of deprivation rather than a momentary inconvenience, evoking a feeling of resilience in the face of scarcity. While it can refer to a general state of suffering, it is also used to describe specific, discrete events or burdens. Because it can function as both a general condition and a countable instance, it adapts to both broad sociological descriptions and individual personal accounts.