How to say "difficult" in Japanese

• 難しいむずかしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe default word for 'difficult' in the sense of hard to do, solve, or understand — a difficult question, task, or subject. It can also suggest that something is complicated or troublesome to deal with.
  私は彼女かのじょに難むずかしい質問しつもんをした。↗

  I asked her a difficult question.
• 苦しいくるしいJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveDifficult in the sense of hardship: a situation that is painful or tough to get through. Not the usual choice for a task that is simply hard to solve.
  苦くるしい、やめろ。↗

  It's so painful. Stop it!
• むずいCommon
  i-adjectiveA slang abbreviation of 難しい with the same 'difficult' meaning. It fits relaxed conversation but is out of place in formal writing or polite speech.
  松葉杖まつばづえってけっこうムズいな・・・。「すみません、ストレッチャー通とおります！」↗

  Crutches are pretty tricky ... "Excuse me, stretcher coming through!"
• 手ごわいてごわいCommon
  i-adjectiveDifficult in the sense of formidable: an opponent, rival, or challenge that is tough to beat and demands real effort. The emphasis is on facing something that will not be easily overcome.
  あいつは海千山千うみせんやませんだから、取り引とりひき相手あいてとしてはかなり手強てごわいぞ。↗

  All those tricks he's got up his sleeve make him a formidable client.
• つらいJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveDifficult (emotionally): a situation that is painful, bitter, or heart-breaking to bear. It is normally written in kana alone.

Use 「難しい」 for tasks that are hard to do or solve, 「苦しい」 for situations that strain or hurt, 「手ごわい」 for formidable opponents, 「つらい」 for emotional hardship, and 「むずい」 as casual slang for 「難しい」.

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

• 難しいむずかしいdifficult
• 苦しいくるしいpainful
• むずいdifficult
• 手ごわいてごわいdifficult
• つらいpainful
• 難いかたいdifficult
• 気難しいきむずかしいhard to please
• ややこしいcomplicated
• 不都合ふつごうinconvenient
• 取りにくいとりにくいdifficult (to obtain, receive permission, access, etc.)
• 難しげむずかしげdifficult
• 難儀なんぎtroublesome (person, task, etc.)
• 住みにくいすみにくいinconvenient (residence)
• 手のかかるてのかかるtroublesome
• やりにくいhard-to-do
• 注文が多いちゅうもんがおおいdemanding
• 注文の多いちゅうもんのおおいdemanding
• 始末が悪いしまつがわるいhard to deal with
• やりづらいhard-to-do
• ややこいcomplicated
• つらたんpainful
• 微妙びみょうdifficult
• 厳しいきびしいhard (to do)
• 悩ましいなやましいtroubling
• びみょいdifficult
• 世話の焼けるせわのやけるtroublesome
• 大変たいへんdifficult
• 辛いからいpainful
• 緩いゆるいdifficult
• 骨ほねlaborious