きつい
きつい · kitsui · JLPT N3 · i-adj
intense
👖 Sounds like kit suit: a suit from a kit, one size too small, feels tight
Say kit-sui aloud: a cheap kit suit that pinches everywhere. The same word covers anything that squeezes you: tight shoes, a tough workload, a harsh tone. 仕事がきつい means the job is hard going.