Level 1

어렵다

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Meaning and Usage

The adjective '어렵다' means 'to be hard' or 'difficult.' It is commonly used to describe tasks, situations, or concepts that require effort or skill to handle.

Common Contexts

You will often hear '어렵다' when talking about learning, problem-solving, or challenging circumstances. It can describe both physical difficulty and abstract challenges.

Politeness and Register

'어렵다' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. When making polite requests or advice, it often appears with polite endings like '-어요' or '-세요.'

Common Collocations

  • '어려운 문제' (difficult problem): Used when referring to challenging questions or tasks.
  • '어려운 상황' (difficult situation): Describes tough circumstances.
  • '어렵다 + 아/어도' (even if it is difficult): Used to encourage perseverance despite difficulty.

Learner Tips

A common mistake is confusing '어렵다' with '힘들다,' which also means 'difficult' but often implies physical or emotional hardship. Use '어렵다' more for intellectual or task-related difficulty, and '힘들다' for physical or emotional strain.

Example Sentences

이 문제는 너무 어려워서 혼자 풀기 힘들어요.

I munjeneun neomu eoryeowoseo honja pulgi himdeureoyo.

This problem is too difficult, so it's hard to solve it alone.

한국어 배우기가 어려워도 포기하지 마세요.

Hangugeo baeugiga eoryeowodo pogihaji maseyo.

Even if learning Korean is difficult, don't give up.

어려운 상황에서도 침착하게 행동해야 해요.

Eoryeoun sanghwangeseodo chimchakhage haengdonghaeya haeyo.

You have to act calmly even in difficult situations.