聞ききづらい

i-adjective

hard to hear; difficult to hear

Describes a situation where sound is physically hard to perceive, e.g., due to noise, low volume, or unclear speech.

• 後うしろの席せきだと先せん生せいの声こえが聞ききづらい。

  It's hard to hear the teacher's voice from the back seats.

• この動どう画がは音おとが悪わるくて聞ききづらい。

  This video has poor sound and is hard to hear.

i-adjective

unpleasant to hear; painful to listen to

Refers to content that is emotionally or psychologically hard to listen to, such as criticism, bad news, or harsh words.

• 彼かれの愚ぐ痴ちは聞ききづらい。

  His complaints are unpleasant to listen to.

• その話はなしはあまりにも悲かなしくて聞ききづらかった。

  That story was so sad it was painful to hear.

i-adjective

hard to ask; difficult to ask

Only when written 聞きづらい / 聞き辛い

Used when a question or request is awkward, embarrassing, or difficult to bring up. Restricted to kanji forms with 聞く (to ask).

• 給きゅう料りょうのことは上じょう司しに聞ききづらい。

  It's hard to ask my boss about my salary.

• そんなプライベートなことは聞ききづらいよ。

  It's awkward to ask such a personal question.