“Difficult” in Japanese
Short answer
Difficult in Japanese is “難い” (gatai). Full meaning: difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ....
Other ways to say “Difficult” in Japanese
難しい
muzukashii difficult, hard, troublesome, complicated, serious (disease, problem, etc.); impossible, unfeasible; fussy, particular, fastidious, hard to please, displeased
手ごわい
tegowai difficult, tough, formidable, redoubtable, stubborn
苦しい
kurushii painful, difficult, tough, hard; distressing, (psychologically) difficult, stressful, awkward (e.g. position); straitened (circumstances), tight (financial situation), needy, struggling
気難しい
kemutsukashii hard to please, difficult, particular, fussy, choosy, picky, fastidious; bad-tempered, in a bad mood, displeased, sullen, crabby, cranky, grumpy
微妙
bimyou subtle, delicate, fine; difficult, complex, tricky, delicate (situation, position, etc.), close (e.g. decision); doubtful, questionable, dicey
がた
gata difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ...
難し
gatashi difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ...
がとう
gatoo difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ...
がたい
gatai difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ...
がたき
gataki difficult, hard; difficult to ..., hard to ...
難ちい
muzukachii difficult, hard, troublesome, complicated, serious (disease, problem, etc.); impossible, unfeasible; fussy, particular, fastidious, hard to please, displeased
Looking for the other direction? Search any Japanese word in the Nihoner lexicon, or practise what you have learned in the learning games.