It is said that the word 'Shitsurai' used as yamato-kotoba (words intrinsically used in Japan), the letter 'shi' is '為' (shi) which means 'do,' the letter 'tsurai' means 'keeping company with' or 'being balanced with,' and consequently, it means 'to do' 'keeping company with' or 'being balanced with' in accordance with the situation.
やまと言葉としての「しつらい」の「し」は「為（し）」で「する」という意であり、「つらい」は「つれあう」や「つりあう」の意で、その時々の情況に応じて「連れ合う」あるいは「釣り合う」ように「する」ことだという。