Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 4/19

づらいHard to, Tough to, Painful to, Difficult to

Structure

Verb[stem]+ づらい

Details

  • Standard

About づらい

Like にくい, づらい is an い-Adjective that attaches to the ます stem of verbs to express that something is 'difficult to do'. The main difference is that づらい expresses a psychological, emotional, or physical burden on the person performing the action. It carries a nuance of 'unbearable' or 'painful to do'.

Fun Fact

づらい comes from the い-adjective (つら)い 'painful', or 'tough'. This reflects how a verb used with づらい will be painful or uncomfortable for the person performing it.

Vocab Coverage

All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.

Examples

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  • カップが(ちい)さいので、()みづらいです。

    The cup is small, so it's tough to drink from.

  • (こた)えづらい(こと)()かれた。

    I was asked something that was tough to answer.

  • タピオカが(おお)きすぎて()いづらい

    The tapioca is too big so it's tough to suck.

  • 彼氏(かれし):「ちょっと()きづらいんだけど・・・。」
    彼女(かのじょ):「うん。なに?」

    Boyfriend: 'It's a little tough to ask, but...'
    Girlfriend: 'Yeah? What is it?'

  • その結果(けっか)になるとは(かんが)えづらいな。

    It's tough to think that would be the result.

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      づらい – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

      • JamesBunpro

        JamesBunpro

        Welcome to the forums!

        If it helps, consider that つ is in the column for “t” sounds in the kana table:

      • GreattFriend

        GreattFriend

        Question about にくい vs づらい

        I am so confused on when to use one vs the other

        タピオカが大きすぎて吸いづらい

        I put にくい first and it said “Let’s try a grammar point that focuses more on the subjective, emotional or psychological difficulty of the action”

        It is because of the “subjective” meaning? Like maybe the tapioca is hard for you to suck through a straw, but for other people it may not be? I was under the impression that づらい is for emotionally/physically taxing/difficult things. But here this is just nonsensical to me. Unless it means like when you’re trying to suck something with big chunks blended in and you can’t suck it through a straw because the chunks are blocking it. But wouldn’t that still be にくい due to the fact that it’s literally difficult?

      • YonaSazela

        YonaSazela

        Maybe it’s just me, but both づらい and にくい shows up as “Subjective” when i review them.

        From what i’ve came to understand, they’re supposed to be, but the exemples don’t show it.
        にくい expresses you can’t do an action because of a factor such as a skill level required.
        “Japanese is hard for me [because my level is low]”

        づらい expresses you can’t do an action because of it being physically or emotionally difficult.
        “Standing up is hard for me [because I’ve hurt myself]”

        Both have a nuance : you are the one not being able to do the action, others can.

        If you take my exemples : Japanese is easier if you already are japanese, and standing up is easier if you never had any motor issues.

        You need to reach N3 to actually learn the “impossible” (for everyone) point.

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