From root: hirap
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
pinahirapan
pi-na-hi-ra-PAN
caused suffering
Present (Incomplete)
pinapahirapan
pi-na-pa-hi-ra-PAN
causing suffering
Future (Contemplated)
papahirapan
pa-pa-hi-ra-PAN
will cause suffering
Usage Note
Pahirapan is used when someone intentionally causes physical or emotional suffering, or makes a task unnecessarily difficult for others. It is frequently used in social or political contexts to describe systemic oppression or personal cruelty.
Examples
" Huwag mong pahirapan ang sarili mo. "
Natural Translation
Don't make things hard for yourself.
Literal Translation
Don't you cause-suffering the self your.
" Ayaw kong pahirapan ang aking sarili. "
Natural Translation
I do not want to cause suffering for myself.
Literal Translation
Not-want I cause-suffering the my self.
" Hindi makatarungan na pahirapan ang mga manggagawa sa pamamagitan ng mahabang oras at napakaliit na sahod. "
Natural Translation
It is not fair to make the workers suffer through long hours and very low pay.
Literal Translation
Not fair to cause-suffering the plural worker through of long hours and very-small salary.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
hirap has 6 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.

Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.

Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.

Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.