khó
[xɔ˧˦]
The Vietnamese word for difficult is khó. Wiktionary also lists khó khăn.
Meaning: hard, not easy (adj)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| khó | [xɔ˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kʰɔ˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| khó khăn | [xɔ˧˦ xan˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kʰɔ˨˩˦ kʰaŋ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
Khó is an adjective used to describe something that is not easy. This includes the complexity of a task, such as a math problem or the personality of a person, such as someone who is strict or demanding.
Which one should you use?
While khó is an adjective meaning 'difficult', khó khăn is often used as a noun to mean 'difficulties' or 'hardships' or it can act as a more emphatic adjective to describe a situation involving struggle.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something is 'very difficult', place the intensifier rất before khó.
Did you know?
- The phrase khó khăn includes a word, khăn, that literally means 'a piece of cloth' or 'towel'. It is a linguistic curiosity that a word for a common fabric is embedded in the term for 'hardship'.
- The term khó khăn is often used to describe financial hardship or poverty rather than just a complex task.
- The word khó can describe a physical blockage, such as khó thở meaning 'difficult to breathe'.
Examples in context
- Cờ vua thì khó.Chess is difficult.This sentence shows how to use khó to describe the difficulty of chess.Tatoeba #13340165 by leucammieuvu, translation #9431906 by CK
- Toán học rất khó.Math is really difficult.This sentence demonstrates using khó to describe math and how to use the intensifier rất.Tatoeba #13249679 by leucammieuvu, translation #10100594 by CK
- Đó là vấn đề khó.It's a difficult problem.This sentence shows the use of khó when describing a problem.Tatoeba #13600444 by leucammieuvu, translation #9470469 by CK
- Học tiếng Việt đôi khi hơi khó khăn đối với người nước ngoài.Learning Vietnamese can be difficult for foreigners.
- Quy trình này thực sự rối rắm và đòi hỏi sự chú ý của tất cả mọi người trong nhóm.This process is truly difficult and requires the attention of everyone in the team.
- Trò chơi này thật sự nan giải, tôi đã thử vài lần nhưng vẫn không giải được.This game is really difficult, I tried several times but still couldn't solve it.
- Bài tập toán này khiến tôi đau đầu cả buổi sáng.This math exercise gave me a headache all morning.
- Bài kiểm tra hóa học tuần này thực sự là một trò khó xơi.This chemistry test is really a tough nut to crack.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minh and Chi are studying together at a cafe.
- MinhBài kiểm tra này khó quá, Chi ơi.This test is too difficult, Chi.
- ChiĐúng vậy, nó thật sự rất khó.That's true, it is really difficult.
- MinhAnh thấy rất khó để hiểu.I find it very difficult to understand.
- ChiĐừng lo, chúng ta cùng làm nhé.Don't worry, let's do it together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “difficult” translations and entries khó, khó khăn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries khó, khó khăn, khăn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
