日本語は難しい
nihongo wa muzukashii
The English phrase 'japanese is hard' is translated into Japanese as 日本語は難しい (nihongo wa muzukashii).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be polite, such as when speaking to teachers or strangers, use 日本語は難しいです. For casual settings, you can use the informal 日本語は難しいよ or the colloquial 日本語って難しいな. The expression 日本語、やっぱり難しいわ is also informal and is used to convey a sense of resignation or to confirm that the language is indeed difficult.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can refine the subject of the difficulty by using different structures. For example, 日本語の学習は難しいです specifically means 'Learning Japanese is difficult' and 日本語の習得には時間がかかります means 'It takes time to acquire Japanese'.
How do you pronounce it?
nihongo wa muzukashii
Did you know?
- The word 難しい is often used as a polite euphemism to mean 'no' or 'impossible'. If a Japanese person says a request is 難しい, they are likely rejecting it without using the word 'cannot'.
- The word 難しい can be used to describe a person's personality. A 難しい person is not 'hard' to understand, but rather 'difficult' or 'fussy' to please.
- Adding わ at the end of 日本語、やっぱり難しいわ can indicate a feminine-coded or soft, emotive tone depending on the region and speaker.
Examples in context
- 日本語は難しいですね。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ne.Japanese is hard, isn't it?
- 独学だと、日本語は難しいです。Dokugaku dato, nihongo wa muzukashii desu.If you study on your own, Japanese is hard.
Example conversation
Two friends are studying at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、日本語は難しいですか？Kenta-san, nihongo wa muzukashii desu ka?Kenta, is Japanese hard?
- 健太 Kentaはい、日本語は難しいです。Hai, nihongo wa muzukashii desu.Yes, Japanese is hard.
- 美咲 Misaki文法も大変そうですね。Bunpou mo taihen sou desu ne.The grammar looks difficult too.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんも一緒に頑張りましょう。Misaki-san mo issho ni ganbarimashou.Let's both do our best, Misaki.
