Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Difficult" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "difficult", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
〜にくい
〜にくい (nikui)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
難航
なんこう (nankou)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "difficult" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 〜にくい and 難航.
In Japanese, 〜にくい (〜にくい (nikui)) is typically associated with "difficult to do; hard to do" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Indicates that an action is difficult to perform or that something is unlikely to occur. It is attached to the masu-stem.
On the other hand, 難航 (なんこう (nankou)) maps to "difficult navigation, rough passage; making slow progress, encountering difficulties (of negotiations, projects)" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Literally meaning 'difficult navigation' for ships, it is commonly used metaphorically for projects, negotiations, or processes that are making slow or difficult progress due to various obstacles and challenges.. A literal translation of "difficult" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "〜にくい"
この字は小さくて読みにくい。
This writing is too small and hard to read.
Bilingual Context for "難航"
交渉は予想通り難航している。
The negotiations are facing difficulties as expected.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この字は小さくて読みにくい。" (Meaning: "This writing is too small and hard to read.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "〜にくい" fits here because it means "difficult to do; hard to do" in the context of: "This writing is too small and hard to read.". "難航" represents "difficult navigation, rough passage; making slow progress, encountering difficulties (of negotiations, projects)".