Phrase lesson

How do you say "That sounds difficult" in Japanese?

Friends共感

That sounds difficult

Answer

Two layers, same practical line

それはむずかしいですね

それ は / むずかしいですね

sore wa / muzukashii desu ne

Lesson body

Phrase breakdown and usage notes

Quick use

Use それはむずかしいですね (sore wa muzukashii desu ne) when you want to respond sympathetically to something difficult.

It is useful when someone talks about work, studying, life in Japan, or a problem they are dealing with.

Chunk or pattern

  • Reusable pattern: それ は / 〜 ですね
  • Replace with a simple reaction word.
  • Good swaps here: たいへん, おもしろい, むずかしい.

Core words

  • それ: that.
  • むずかしい: difficult.

Practical note

This is not only about technical difficulty. It can also mean “That sounds tough” depending on the situation.

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