How to say "trouble" in Japanese

• 面倒めんどうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveTrouble as everyday bother or hassle: something that is more effort than it is worth, as when a task is 'too much trouble' and you give up on it.
• 苦労くろうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbTrouble as hardship and toil: difficulties you endure and work through, as in the troubles of raising a family. Not the word for small daily bother.
  せっかくの苦労くろうもあだになった。↗

  All my pains went for nothing.
• 悩みなやみJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounTrouble as worry or distress: concerns that weigh on the mind and that you agonize over, such as personal or relationship troubles. It is inner trouble, not external hassle.
  それはぜいたくな悩なやみだよ。↗

  Gee, I wish I had that problem.
• トラブルJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounTrouble as a problem, breakdown or quarrel: something that has gone wrong, as in car trouble, technical trouble, or trouble with a neighbour. It names the incident itself, not a feeling or a burden.
  私はトラブルに巻き込まきこまれた。↗

  I was involved in the trouble.
• 迷惑めいわくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, na-adjectiveTrouble imposed on someone else: bother, annoyance or nuisance you cause another person, as in apologising for troubling them. It is the affected person's point of view.
  迷惑めいわくにならないようにしなさい。↗

  Never make a nuisance of yourself.

Choose 面倒 for everyday hassle, 苦労 for hardship and toil, 「悩み」 for worries that trouble the mind, 「トラブル」 for problems, breakdowns or disputes, and 迷惑 for trouble you cause others.

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

• 面倒めんどうtrouble
• 苦労くろうtrouble
• 悩みなやみtrouble
• トラブルtrouble
• 迷惑めいわくtrouble
• 厄介やっかいtrouble
• 事故じこaccident
• 困難こんなんdifficulty
• 手数てすうtrouble
• 故障こしょうfault
• 難なんdifficulty
• 紛争ふんそうdispute
• 波乱はらんdisturbance
• いざこざtrouble
• お手数おてすうtrouble
• 高配こうはい(your) consideration
• 不和ふわdiscord
• 辛苦しんくhardship
• 煩いわずらいworry
• 事件じけんevent
• 配慮はいりょconsideration
• 災いわざわいdisaster
• 労力ろうりょくlabour
• 労ろうlabor
• 苦心くしんpains
• 苦境くきょうdifficult situation
• 異状いじょうsomething wrong
• 紛糾ふんきゅうcomplication
• 造作ぞうさtrouble
• 困りごとこまりごとproblem
• ごたごたtrouble
• 悶着もんちゃくtrouble
• 累るいtrouble
• 煩わすわずらわすto trouble
• 煩はんtrouble
• 煩わせるわずらわせるto trouble
• ご苦労ごくろうtrouble (I have put you through)
• ご迷惑ごめいわくtrouble
• 憂苦ゆうくtrouble
• 煩労はんろうtrouble
• トラtrouble
• もやくやtrouble
• 困ったことこまったことtrouble
• 揉め事もめごとquarrel
• 手間暇てまひまtime and effort
• 揉めもめquarrel
• 骨折りほねおりpains
• 懊悩おうのうanguish
• 辛労しんろうhardships
• 紛擾ふんじょうdisturbance
• 難きかたきdifficulty
• 繁はんcomplexity
• 苦くpain
• どさくさconfusion
• 困り者こまりものgood-for-nothing
• 騒がせるさわがせるto disturb
• 一悶着ひともんちゃくsmall quarrel
• 世話せわtrouble
• 間違いまちがいaccident
• 塩しおhardship
• 憂いうれいanxiety
• ことincident
• 波風なみかぜdiscord
• 苦しめるくるしめるto harass
• 一荒れひとあれtrouble (e.g. at a meeting)
• 難儀なんぎsuffering
• 間違えまちがえaccident
• もつれcomplication
• 風波ふうはdiscord
• 手てtrouble
• 問題もんだいtrouble
• 出入りでいりfight