Translation guide
The English word 'difficult' can be expressed in Japanese through various adjectives, verbs, and phrases depending on the nuance—whether something is hard to do, challenging, troublesome, or mentally taxing. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese expressions by meaning.
Expressing that a task or action requires effort and is not simple.
The most common and general word for 'difficult'. Used for tasks, problems, situations, and abstract concepts.
This problem is difficult.
Learning Japanese is difficult.
A more formal or written word for 'difficult', often implying hardship or adversity. Used as a na-adjective.
We are facing a difficult situation.
Means 'tough' or 'hard', often with a nuance of being demanding or troublesome. Common in spoken Japanese.
Today's work was difficult/tough.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'difficult to do' due to inherent difficulty or physical resistance. Similar to 'hard to V'.
This pen is difficult to write with.
His explanation is difficult to understand.
Also means 'difficult to do', but often implies emotional or psychological difficulty, or personal hardship. More subjective than 〜にくい.
It's difficult to tell him the truth.
Describing a person, situation, or thing that causes trouble or is hard to deal with.
Means 'troublesome', 'bothersome', or 'difficult to handle'. Often used for people or situations that are a nuisance.
A difficult customer came.
This is a difficult/troublesome problem.
Means 'troublesome', 'bothersome', or 'a hassle'. Implies something is annoying or requires too much effort.
Difficult/troublesome procedures are required.
Referring to something intellectually challenging or complicated.
Expressing that something is not easy to get or accomplish.
All three mean 'difficult to do', but with different nuances. 〜にくい is objective difficulty (e.g., physical resistance). 〜づらい implies emotional or psychological difficulty. 〜がたい is more formal/literary and often used with mental actions (e.g., 信じがたい 'hard to believe').
This door is hard to open (stiff).
It's hard to say goodbye to him (emotionally).
His behavior is hard to understand (almost incomprehensible).
While 難しい人 can be understood, it's more natural to use 厄介な人 (troublesome person) or 気難しい人 (hard-to-please person) depending on context. 難しい人 can sound like 'a person who is hard to understand' rather than 'difficult to deal with'.