How to say "hard" in Japanese

• 難しいむずかしいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers hard meaning difficult: a hard exam question or a problem that is hard to solve. When hard requires effort or skill rather than physical firmness, this is the word you want.
  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.
• 硬いかたいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe physical sense: hard and solid to the touch, not soft — hard bread, a hard bed, hard ground. It never means difficult; for that use 難しい.
  卵たまごは硬かたくゆでてください。↗

  Boil the eggs hard.
• ハードCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe borrowed English word, for hard in the sense of tough and physically demanding: hard training, a hard schedule, a hard day. It does not cover difficult questions or solid objects.
  ウーッ、今日きょうの練習れんしゅうはいつになくハードで辛つらい。↗

  Whoo! Today's practice is tough - much harder than usual.
• ひどいJLPT N4approx.Common
  i-adjectiveMainly means terrible or cruel; its hard is the harsh sense, as in hard luck or harsh treatment — not difficult or physically hard. It is usually written in kana alone.
• きついJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveHard as in tough and demanding: hard work, a hard schedule, tasks that wear you out. The nuance is felt strain, not difficulty of understanding or physical hardness.
  フーッ、この坂道さかみちはきついよ。でも帰かえりは楽らくだよね。↗

  Whew! This is a tough hill. But coming back sure will be a breeze.

Use 「難しい」 for hard meaning difficult, 「硬い」 for physically hard things, 「ハード」 or 「きつい」 for tough, demanding activities and schedules, and 「ひどい」 only when hard means harsh or cruel.

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

• 難しいむずかしいdifficult
• 硬いかたいhard
• ハードhard
• ひどいcruel
• きついtough
• 過酷かこくsevere
• 耳障りみみざわりhard (on the ears)
• 硬式こうしきhard (esp. of hardball, tennis, etc.)
• 手厳しいてきびしいharsh (criticism, treatment, etc.)
• 手痛いていたいsevere
• 難いかたいdifficult
• 苦しいくるしいpainful
• 思い切りおもいきりto one's heart's content
• シビアsevere
• 厳然げんぜんgrave
• ぎゅっとtightly (hold, squeeze, etc.)
• 思いっきりおもいっきりto one's heart's content
• こわいtough
• びんびんhard (e.g. penis)
• こちんこちんhard (due to freezing, drying, etc.)
• ぐさりdeeply (stab, thrust, etc.)
• かた焼きかたやきhard-baked
• 世知辛いせちがらいtough (world)
• グサッとdeeply (stab, thrust, etc.)
• 難しげむずかしげdifficult
• ドイヒーcruel
• ごついlarge and rough
• みっちりintensely
• 熾烈しれつfierce (fight, competition, etc.)
• したたかtough
• 営々えいえい(work) hard
• きゅう(rubbing, twisting) hard
• やいのやいの(pressing) hard
• 穴の開くほどあなのあくほど(staring) piercingly
• 穴が開くほどあながあくほど(staring) piercingly
• つらいtough
• 厳しいきびしいhard (to do)
• がんがんfully
• ぎゅうぎゅうhard (pressing, tying, twisting, etc.)
• しっかりproperly
• しきりにhard
• ひしひしtightly
• 厳粛げんしゅくharsh (e.g. truth)
• 悩ましいなやましいtroubling
• がんhard (hit, scold, etc.)
• ごりごりwith force
• べったりwith a smack (e.g. sitting down)
• しきりとhard
• つらたんtough
• もりもりenergetically
• 大変たいへんdifficult
• 遠いとおいhard (of hearing)
• えらいtiring
• 緩いゆるいdifficult
• ばりばり(working) hard