Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 難しい | muzukashii | [mɯ̟zɨka̠ɕii] (narrow) |
| 困難な | konnan na |
難しい is used for tasks or subjects that are intellectually or physically challenging. In Japanese social contexts, it is also frequently used as a polite euphemism to say 'no' or to imply that something is not possible without being blunt.
Which one should you use?
Use 難しい for things like tasks or subjects that are hard to perform or understand. In contrast, 困難な is used for more abstract, serious or large-scale hardships, such as 'difficult circumstances'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
困難な is a more formal and literary term often found in official documents or news reports.
How does it change in a sentence?
難しい is an i-adjective, which means it can directly modify a noun without an extra particle. 困難な is a na-adjective, which requires the particle な when it is used to modify a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
muzukashii
When do people say it?
When someone uses 難しい in a social context, they may be politely signaling that a request cannot be fulfilled or that a situation is not possible.
Did you know?
- The word 難しい shares an ancient root with verbs meaning to feel vexed or irritated. Originally, the concept of 'difficulty' was more closely tied to the feeling of being frustrated or troubled by something.
- In Japanese, calling a person 難しい (muzukashii hito) suggests they are fussy or hard to please. It is a polite way to describe a prickly personality without using an insulting word.
- In a business negotiation, hearing that a proposal is 困難 is a much stronger signal than 難しい. It suggests the obstacle is systemic or insurmountable rather than just a hard task to complete.
Examples in context
- 禁煙は難しい。It is difficult to give up smoking.This sentence shows how to express that a certain habit is difficult.Tatoeba #179958 by wat, translation #18817 by CK
- 難しい状況です。This is a difficult situation.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a situation as difficult.Tatoeba #123195 by KK_kaku_, translation #280804 by CK
- チェスは難しい。Chess is difficult.This sentence shows how to say a specific game is difficult.Tatoeba #9431904 by small_snow, translation #9431906 by CK
- この問題は難しいです。This problem is difficult.
- そのプロジェクトは困難です。That project is difficult.
- 昨日の試験は大変だった。Yesterday's exam was tough.
- このゲームはめちゃくちゃむずかしい！This game is ridiculously difficult!
- 255 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are discussing a new hobby.
- 蓮 Renこのゲーム、かなり難しいね。Kono geemu, kanari muzukashii ne.This game is quite difficult, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、操作が難しいよ。Un, sousa ga muzukashii yo.Yeah, the controls are hard.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは、得意なのかな？Himari-san wa, tokui na no kana?I wonder if you are good at it, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、私も苦手だよ。Iie, watashi mo nigate da yo.No, I'm not good at it either.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “difficult” translations and entries 難しい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 難しい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
