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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Medical/technical term for hearing loss. Not used in casual conversation.
The content is painful, embarrassing, or uncomfortable to hear.
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.
Intended: The sound is quiet so it's hard to hear. (Unnatural)
The sound is quiet so it's hard to hear.
I feel like my hearing has gotten worse lately.
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.
His criticism is hard to hear, but I think it's right.