“Difficult” in Japanese is 難しい (むずかしい), pronounced muzukashii.
Pronunciation
The word has 5 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Difficult. In business, 難しいです can be a polite way to say no.
Example sentences
- 漢字は難しいです。かんじはむずかしいです。Kanji is difficult.
- この問題は難しくないです。このもんだいはむずかしくないです。This problem isn’t difficult.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 難しい. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 難しい むずかしい | difficult |
| Polite present | 難しいです むずかしいです | is difficult |
| Negative | 難しくないです むずかしくないです | isn’t difficult |
| Past | 難しかったです むずかしかったです | was difficult |
| Past negative | 難しくなかったです むずかしくなかったです | wasn’t difficult |
| て-form | 難しくて むずかしくて | difficult and… |
| Adverb (く) | 難しく むずかしく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say difficult in Japanese?
Difficult in Japanese is 難しい (むずかしい), pronounced “muzukashii”.
How do you write difficult in Japanese?
It's written 難しい with kanji, or むずかしい in hiragana. Both are read muzukashii.
Is 難しい on the JLPT?
Yes. 難しい (muzukashii) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.