Translation guide
Describes someone who is hard to deal with, uncooperative, or troublesome. Japanese has several nuanced terms depending on the nature of the difficulty.
He's a really difficult person to deal with.
Means a troublesome or bothersome person. Implies they cause extra work or annoyance.
That customer is a difficult person.
A person who is a burden or nuisance. Slightly stronger than 面倒な人.
She sometimes becomes a difficult person.
Describing someone who is difficult because they resist cooperation or are obstinate.
Describing someone who is difficult because they have high or unreasonable expectations.
Describing someone whose inherent nature makes them hard to get along with.
The direct translation '難しい人' (muzukashii hito) is not commonly used to mean 'difficult person' in the sense of being hard to deal with. It usually means 'a person who is difficult to understand' or 'a person in a difficult situation'. Use the phrases above instead.
My father is a stubborn person, so it's impossible to persuade him.
That editor is a difficult person, checking every single word.
They say that person is difficult to get along with.