Japanese word

困る

Pronunciation

Romajikomaru

Meaning

  • verbhave trouble

Example

道が分からなくて困っています。michi ga wa ka ra na ku te koma tte i ma su

I am having trouble because I do not know the way.

Illustration for 困る (have trouble)

More examples

荷物が多くて困りました。ni motsu ga ō ku te koma ri ma shi ta

I had trouble because I had too much luggage.

Core concept

Describes being unable to proceed easily because a situation creates a problem or leaves someone unsure what to do.

Common phrases

  • 対応に困るtai ō ni koma ru

    have trouble handling

  • 困ったときkoma tta to ki

    when in trouble

  • 困っているkoma tte i ru

    be in trouble

Similar words

悩むnayamu: To worry about a problem or think hard about how to deal with it.
迷うmayou: To be unsure which way, choice, or action to take.
戸惑うtomadou: To be unsure how to respond in an unfamiliar situation.

Definition in Japanese

問題が起きたり、どうすればよいか分からなかったりして、対処に苦しむ。mon dai ga o ki ta ri dō su re ba yo i ka wa ka ra na ka tta ri shi te tai sho ni kuru shi mu

Word origin

困る (komaru) is a native Japanese verb, not a compound or loanword, and reliable details of its earlier formation are uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 困っています (komatte imasu) commonly presents a difficulty that is affecting the speaker at the moment.

Other meanings

  • be at a lossverb
  • be embarrassedverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 困らせるkomaraserutroubleverb
  • 困りごとkomarigotoproblemnoun

Word lists with this word