Korean word

어렵다

Pronunciation

Romanizationeoryeoptta

Meaning

  • adjectivehard

Example

이 시험은 어렵다.i si heo meun eo ryeop tta

This test is hard.

Illustration for 어렵다 (hard)

More examples

이 설명은 이해하기 어렵다.i seol myeong eun i hae ha gi eo ryeop tta

This explanation is hard to understand.

Core concept

Something takes real effort because its answer or meaning does not come easily.

Common phrases

  • 이해하기 어렵다i hae ha gi eo ryeop tta

    hard to understand

  • 듣기 어렵다teut kki eo ryeop tta

    hard to hear

  • 말하기 어렵다mal ha gi eo ryeop tta

    hard to speak

Similar words

힘들다himdeulda: Hard to do because it takes a lot of energy or effort.
복잡하다pokjjapada: Complicated because many parts are mixed together and hard to organize.
곤란하다kollanhada: Difficult or uncomfortable to deal with or respond to.
버겁다peogeoptta: Too demanding for one person to handle comfortably.

Definition in Korean

해결하거나 이해하기가 쉽지 않아 곤란한 상태를 나타내는 형용사.hae gyeol ha geo na i hae ha gi ga swip jji a na kol lan han sang tae reul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

No reliable story explains how this word began, so its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often separate difficult from confusing, but this Korean word naturally covers both when the context makes the type of difficulty clear.

Other meanings

  • hard to understandadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word