difficult

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is なん, and the kun readings are むずかしい and かたい. It has 18 strokes. It appears in words for difficult conditions and hardship.
• Basic usage: 難しい is read むずかしい and 困難 is read こんなん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 難しい / 困難
  • 難しい means difficult and is read むずかしい. It describes a problem or action as difficult.
  • この問題は私には少し難しい。 means “This problem is a little difficult for me.”
  • 困難 means difficulty or hardship and is read こんなん. It refers to a situation that makes a plan difficult to continue or to hardship that must be faced.
  • 資金不足で計画の続行が困難になった。 means “A lack of funds made it difficult to continue the plan.”