Translation guide
Describes someone who is difficult to satisfy, often having high or specific standards. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed through adjectives, verbs, or set phrases that convey pickiness or fussiness.
Describing a person who is generally hard to satisfy, often about many things.
An i-adjective meaning hard to please, moody, or difficult to deal with. Often used for someone who is particular and not easily satisfied.
He is a hard-to-please person.
That customer is hard to please and always complains.
Literally 'noisy,' but often used to mean fussy, picky, or hard to please, especially about details.
She is picky about food.
Literally 'has many orders/requests,' meaning demanding or hard to please.
That person is so demanding; it's tough.
Specifically means picky about tastes or preferences.
He is picky about clothes.
When the pickiness is about a particular area like food, music, etc.
Pattern: [noun] + にうるさい. Means 'picky about [noun].' Very common and natural.
He is picky about coffee.
Literally 'has a fat tongue,' meaning has a refined palate; hard to please with food.
Similar to above but for visual arts or aesthetics; has a discerning eye.
When someone is so demanding that satisfaction seems impossible.
Literally 'cannot be satisfied.' A direct way to say someone is impossible to please.
It's hard to satisfy him.
Means 'no matter what, (they) don't like it.' Emphasizes the impossibility of pleasing.
The phrase 'hard to please' does not have a single direct equivalent. Using 喜ばせるのが難しい (yorokobaseru no ga muzukashii) is possible but less natural than the options above.
気難しい (kimuzukashii) describes a personality trait of being hard to please or moody. うるさい (urusai) is more about being fussy or picky about specific things, and can sound more casual or negative.
She has a refined palate, so she doesn't drink cheap wine.
He has a discerning eye, so he chooses good paintings.
No matter what I do, she never seems to be pleased.