Japanese grammar · no level in the source

〜づらいmeaning and usage

Meaning

Hard/difficult to A. Shows an undesirable quality that's hard/taxing on the subject

How to form it

  • verb (masu-stem)づらい

How it is used

Added to the masu-stem: hard to do because it is physically or emotionally taxing, from the speaker's own feeling. 「〜にくい」 is more neutral and usually describes how hard something is in itself.

Examples

  1. この靴は小さくて歩きづらい。

    These shoes are small and hard to walk in.

  2. 忙しそうな先輩には質問しづらいです。

    It's hard to ask questions of a senior who looks busy.

  3. 駅の案内がわかりづらくて、道に迷ってしまった。

    The signs at the station were hard to follow, and I got lost.