Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Difficult" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "difficult", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
困難な
こんなんな (konnan na)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
〜にくい
〜にくい (nikui)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "difficult" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 困難な and 〜にくい.
In Japanese, 困難な (こんなんな (konnan na)) is typically associated with "difficult, hard, challenging" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Used to describe situations or tasks that are difficult to achieve or overcome. More formal than 「難しい.
On the other hand, 〜にくい (〜にくい (nikui)) maps to "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. A literal translation of "difficult" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "困難な"
そのプロジェクトは非常に困難な課題を含んでいました。
That project involved very difficult challenges.
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "そのプロジェクトは非常に ＿＿＿ 課題を含んでいました。" (Meaning: "That project involved very difficult challenges.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "困難な" fits here because it means "difficult, hard, challenging" in the context of: "That project involved very difficult challenges.". "〜にくい" represents "difficult to do; hard to do".