Meaning and Usage
"힘들다" is a common Korean adjective used to express that something is hard, difficult, or physically or mentally exhausting. It can describe tasks, situations, or feelings.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "힘들다" when talking about work, studies, physical exercise, or emotional struggles. It conveys both physical tiredness and emotional hardship.
Collocations and Patterns
- 힘들다 + 아/어요: polite present tense, e.g., "힘들어요" (It's hard)
- 힘들지만 + verb: expressing contrast, e.g., "힘들지만 포기하지 마세요" (It's hard, but don't give up)
- 몸이 힘들다: to express physical tiredness
Register and Politeness
"힘들다" is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite speech by adjusting the verb ending. It is very common in daily conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "힘들다" with "어렵다" (difficult in terms of intellectual challenge). "힘들다" often implies physical or emotional difficulty, while "어렵다" is more about mental or technical difficulty. Use "힘들다" when referring to fatigue or hardship.