づらい

づらい means hard to do; emotionally difficult. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that an action feels difficult because of emotional reluctance, social pressure, or physical awkwardness.

This grammar point often appears in everyday conversation, JLPT N4 reading passages, and informal writing. If you want to say that something is hard to do—not because it is objectively impossible, but because it feels uncomfortable—づらい is the pattern you need.

What does づらい mean?

Use づらい when you want to express that an action is hard to do; emotionally difficult.

Natural translations include:

• hard to do
• emotionally difficult
• awkward to do
• uncomfortable to ~

The best translation depends on the sentence. Notice whether the difficulty is emotional or physical awkwardness before you choose the English phrase.

How to form づらい

The pattern attaches to the masu-stem of a verb and functions as an i-adjective.

Examples of the pattern:

• 言い → 言いづらい
• 読み → 読みづらい
• 歩き → 歩きづらい

A closely related form is にくい, which also attaches to the masu-stem but carries a different nuance.

When is づらい used?

Use づらい in situations like:

• describing an action you hesitate to do for emotional or social reasons
• pointing out that something feels physically awkward or uncomfortable
• reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences where subjective difficulty matters

Tone and register:

• usually neutral
• common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese
• more subjective than にくい, which sounds more objective

づらい example sentences

After reading each sentence, ask what kind of difficulty づらい signals. If the problem is emotional hesitation or physical awkwardness rather than objective impossibility, づらい is the natural choice.

Nuance of づらい

The key nuance is subjective difficulty: the speaker finds the action hard because of feelings, social context, or physical awkwardness, not because the task is objectively impossible.

This matters because づらい can describe emotional barriers, social pressure, or uncomfortable physical situations. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation. If the context is objective resistance, にくい is usually the better fit.

づらい vs にくい

Both づらい and にくい attach to the masu-stem and describe difficulty, but they do different jobs.

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the speaker describing an emotional hurdle or an objective property? That distinction usually tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with づらい

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with づらい, then rewrite it with にくい. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

Is づらい on the JLPT?

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for づらい

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

Learning path for づらい

To learn づらい efficiently, start with its formation, then compare it with similar patterns, and finally practice in context.

Related grammar to review next

• にくい — strengthens the contrast between ability, ease, difficulty, and negation.
• やすい — strengthens the contrast between ability, ease, difficulty, and negation.
• なかなか～ない — strengthens the contrast between ability, ease, difficulty, and negation.
• たがる — contrasts with this pattern from the desire, emotion, and outward-sign grammar group.

Learn づらい with Hane

If you want to review づらい together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

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