Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Tough" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "tough", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
大変
たいへん (taihen)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
大変な
たいへんな (taihen na)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "tough" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 大変 and 大変な.
In Japanese, 大変 (たいへん (taihen)) is typically associated with "tough, difficult, serious (na-adjective); very, extremely (adverb)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Can be an な-adjective.
On the other hand, 大変な (たいへんな (taihen na)) maps to "tough, difficult, serious, awful" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A な-adjective. Can describe a difficult situation, a lot of work, or a serious problem. Can also be an exclamation of surprise or distress. A literal translation of "tough" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "大変"
この仕事は時間がかかって大変です。
This job takes a long time and is tough.
Bilingual Context for "大変な"
仕事が多くて、毎日大変です。
There's a lot of work, so every day is tough.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この仕事は時間がかかって ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "This job takes a long time and is tough.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "大変" fits here because it means "tough, difficult, serious (na-adjective); very, extremely (adverb)" in the context of: "This job takes a long time and is tough.". "大変な" represents "tough, difficult, serious, awful".