How to say "confusing" in Japanese

• 紛らわしいまぎらわしいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'confusing' in the sense of easily mistaken or mixed up: two similar things that are hard to tell apart. Typical for similar-looking words, signs, or names that lead you astray.
• ややこしいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers 'confusing' arising from complexity: a matter, rule, or situation that is complicated and tangled, so it is hard to follow. The nuance is 'it is a hassle to sort out' rather than 'easily mistaken for something else'.
  あの５人にんの関係かんけいは、ややこしい。↗

  The relationships among those five people are complicated.

Use 「紛らわしい」 for things easily mistaken or mixed up because they look or sound alike, and 「ややこしい」 for situations or matters that are confusing because they are complicated or tangled.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 紛らわしいまぎらわしいeasily mixed up (e.g. similar words)
• ややこしいcomplicated
• 分かりづらいわかりづらいdifficult to understand
• ややこいcomplicated