What does it mean word for word?
日本語 (nihongo) means Japanese. を (o) marks the object. 勉強する (benkyō suru) means to study. の (no) turns the verb into a noun phrase, studying. は (wa) marks the topic. 難しい (muzukashii) means difficult.
Which one should you use?
難しい focuses on intellectual difficulty or complexity, while 大変 (taihen), as in 日本語を勉強するのは大変だ, says the process is tough or exhausting. 日本語の勉強は難しいです。 is a polite version that uses a noun meaning Japanese study. 日本語を習うのは大変です。 is a formal way to say learning Japanese is tough.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
日本語を勉強するのは難しい is plain. Adding desu gives 日本語を勉強するのは難しいです, which suits teachers, strangers or formal settings. 日本語の勉強は難しいなあ。 and 日本語を習うのって大変だよ。 are informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say learning Japanese was hard, change muzukashii to its past form muzukashikatta, giving 日本語を勉強するのは難しかった.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced nihongo o benkyō suru no wa muzukashii. The particle written は is said wa here, and the double i at the end of muzukashii is held a little longer.
When do people say it?
Japanese speakers often respond with encouragement such as 頑張ってください！, good luck or keep at it.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 難しい ('difficult') is often used as a polite way to say 'no' or 'impossible' when rejecting a request.
- The word 勉強 ('study') originally meant 'forcing oneself' or 'exertion' before it became associated with academic learning.
- While 難しい refers to the intellectual challenge, the word 大変 ('tough') can also mean 'terrible' or 'serious' when describing a disaster or a crisis.
Examples in context
- 文化の違いを理解するのは、日本語の学習で難しい部分だよ。Understanding cultural differences is a challenging aspect of learning Japanese.
- 日本語を勉強するのは難しいです。Nihongo o benkyou suru no wa muzukashii desu.Learning Japanese is hard.
- 日本語を勉強するのは難しいけれど、楽しいです。Nihongo o benkyou suru no wa muzukashii keredo, tanoshii desu.Learning Japanese is hard, but it is fun.
- 漢字があるから、日本語を勉強するのは難しいですね。Kanji ga aru kara, Nihongo o benkyou suru no wa muzukashii desu ne.Since there are kanji, learning Japanese is hard, isn't it?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their language studies at a cafe.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんは、どうですか？Himari-san wa, dou desu ka?How about you, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari日本語を勉強するのは難しいと感じます。Nihongo o benkyou suru no wa muzukashii to kanjimasu.I feel that learning Japanese is hard.
- 陽太 Yota僕も同じ気持ちです。Boku mo onaji kimochi desu.I feel the same way.
- 陽葵 Himari一緒に頑張りましょう。Issho ni ganbarimashou.Let's do our best together.
