Translation guide
Expressing that something is hard to hear, either due to physical sound quality, personal hearing ability, or social/emotional difficulty in listening.
The sound is unclear, quiet, or distorted, making it difficult to perceive.
Standard, natural way to say something is hard to hear. Used for poor audio quality, distance, noise, etc.
後ろの席だと先生の声が聞こえにくい。
It's hard to hear the teacher's voice from the back seats.
Emphasizes difficulty in making out the words, often due to accent, speed, or distortion.
電話の音が悪くて、相手の言っていることが聞き取りにくい。
The phone line is bad, so it's hard to make out what the other person is saying.
Literally 'can't hear well'. Casual and common.
すみません、よく聞こえません。
Sorry, I can't hear you very well.
Describing a person's reduced hearing ability, either temporary or permanent.
Common euphemism for being hard of hearing, especially for elderly people.
祖父は耳が遠いので、大きい声で話してください。
My grandfather is hard of hearing, so please speak loudly.
More direct way to say hearing is poor. Can be used for oneself or others.
最近、聞こえが悪くなった気がする。
I feel like my hearing has gotten worse lately.
Medical/technical term for hearing loss. Not used in casual conversation.
The content is painful, embarrassing, or uncomfortable to hear.
Expresses emotional pain in listening to something.
彼の悲しい話は聞くのがつらい。
It's hard to listen to his sad story.
Idiom meaning something hits close to home or is an uncomfortable truth.
彼の批判は耳が痛いけど、正しいと思う。
His criticism is hard to hear, but I think it's right.
The phrase 聞くのが難しい (kiku no ga muzukashii) sounds like 'difficult to listen to' in a mental or skill sense, not physical audibility. Use 聞こえにくい instead.
× 音が小さくて聞くのが難しい。
Intended: The sound is quiet so it's hard to hear. (Unnatural)
○ 音が小さくて聞こえにくい。
The sound is quiet so it's hard to hear.
加齢による難聴は多くの人に起こります。
Age-related hearing loss happens to many people.