What does it mean word for word?
The word 人生 (jinsei) refers specifically to the span of a human life, rather than life in a general biological sense.
Which one should you use?
While 人生は厳しい implies a harsh or severe struggle, using 人生は難しい suggests that life is complex or intellectually and logically difficult to navigate.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal situations, you can use 人生は難しいです (life is difficult), 人生はつらいです (life is tough) or 人生は辛いです (life is bitter or painful). In informal or colloquial settings, you might say 人生は大変だよ (life is tough), 人生は厳しいよ (life is harsh) or use the colloquial expression 人生は大変だ to indicate that life is a struggle or a lot of work.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that life was hard in the past tense, you change the adjective to its past form, such as 人生は厳しかった.
How do you pronounce it?
jinsei wa kibishii
Did you know?
- The word 辛い (tsurai) used to describe a hard life is often written with the same kanji as the word for 'spicy' 辛い (karai). While they look the same, the former refers to emotional pain and the latter to a taste.
- Japanese has a specific concept called mono no aware, a bittersweet awareness of the impermanence of life. This philosophy often underpins why phrases about life being 'hard' or 'bitter' are viewed as a natural part of beauty.
- The word 大変 (taihen), used in the colloquial phrase 人生は大変だ, literally means 'great change' or 'serious matter', framing a hard life as an overwhelming series of events.
Examples in context
- 人生は厳しいものだ。Jinsei wa kibishii mono da.Life is a hard thing.
- それでも、人生は厳しい。Soredemo, jinsei wa kibishii.Even so, life is hard.
- 本当に、人生は厳しいですね。Hontou ni, jinsei wa kibishii desu ne.Truly, life is hard, isn't it?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking at a cafe after a long day of work.
- 結衣 Yui仕事が大変で、疲れたよ。Shigoto ga taihen de, tsukareta yo.Work was tough, and I'm exhausted.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかるよ、人生は厳しいよね。Wakaru yo, jinsei wa kibishii yo ne.I understand, life is hard, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yui大翔くんは、どうやって乗り越えてるの？Hiroto-kun wa, dou yatte norikoeteru no?Hiroto, how do you get through it?
- 大翔 Hiroto美味しいものを食べるようにしているよ。Oishii mono o taberu you ni shite iru yo.I try to eat delicious food.
