Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "難しい", "むずかしい", "困難な", "〜にくい"
All represent the core concept "difficult", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
難しい
むずかしい (muzukashii)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
むずかしい
むずかしい (muzukashii)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
困難な
こんなんな (konnan na)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
〜にくい
〜にくい (nikui)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "difficult" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "難しい", "むずかしい", "困難な", "〜にくい" based on context.
- 難しい (むずかしい (muzukashii) - Level: N5): Maps to "difficult, hard" and is used when An i-adjective used to describe tasks, problems, or subjects that require a lot of effort or understanding..
- むずかしい (むずかしい (muzukashii) - Level: N5): Maps to "difficult" and is used when An i-adjective used to describe something that is not easy to do or understand. The opposite of やさしい.
- 困難な (こんなんな (konnan na) - Level: N3): Maps to "difficult, hard, challenging" and is used when Used to describe situations or tasks that are difficult to achieve or overcome. More formal than 「難しい.
- 〜にくい (〜にくい (nikui) - Level: N3): Maps to "difficult to do; hard to do" and is used when Indicates that an action is difficult to perform or that something is unlikely to occur. It is attached to the masu-stem.
Context for "難しい"
この日本語の試験は難しいです。
This Japanese test is difficult.
Context for "むずかしい"
この問題はとても難しくて、わかりません。
This problem is very difficult, so I don't understand it.
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.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この日本語の試験は ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "This Japanese test is difficult.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "難しい" is correct here because it represents "difficult, hard" in the context: "This Japanese test is difficult.".