薪 — fuel, firewood, kindling

薪たきぎを 集あつめて 火ひをたいたよ。

I gathered wood and made a fire.

私わたしは 長ながい 間ま 臥薪嘗胆がしんしょうたんの 苦くるしみをなめた。

I have struggled under extreme difficulties for a long time.

日本では勧告を受諾した政府に対して世論は激しく反発したが、政府は臥薪嘗胆をスローガンにこれを対露敵対心に振り向けて六六艦隊計画をはじめとする軍拡を進めた。

Although the Japanese strongly accused the government of its acceptance of the recommendation, the Japanese government transformed the anger to hostility against Russia and proceeded with military expansion with projects, including 'rokuroku kantai keikaku' (literally, 66 fleets project) with the slogan, 'endurance of hardship'.