Translation guide
Expresses difficulty in doing something due to lack of time, money, or resources, or being in a difficult situation. Often used in the passive or potential form in Japanese.
I'm hard pressed to pay the rent.
He was hard pressed to find a job.
Simply states that doing something is difficult. Less emphasis on the struggle, more on the objective difficulty.
This month I'm hard pressed to pay the rent.
An idiomatic expression meaning to struggle desperately. Stronger than 苦労する.
I'm hard pressed to meet the deadline.
The learner wants to describe a state of being under pressure or in a tight spot.
The learner wants to express skepticism or difficulty in accepting an idea.
Used to say you can't bring yourself to think something. Often with 信じる (believe) or 想像する (imagine).
I'd be hard pressed to believe he did such a thing.
A softer way to express doubt about the possibility of something.
Do not translate 'hard pressed' literally as 固く押される or similar. It does not make sense in Japanese. Use the patterns above to convey the intended meaning.
I'd be hard pressed to name a better restaurant.
They were hard pressed for time.
Means to be at one's wit's end or in a desperate situation. Implies urgency.
Hard pressed, I asked for help.
He'd be hard pressed to agree.