Korean Grammar Point
~힘들다 [himdeulda] (It's hard to)

~힘들다 [himdeulda] (It's hard to)

Short explanation:

Used to express that something is difficult or hard to do.

Formation:

Verb stem + 기 + 힘들다

Examples:

일어나기 힘들었어요, 왜냐하면 어제 밤에 너무 늦게 잤어요.
Ireonagi himdeureosseoyo, waenyahamyeon eoje bame neomu neutge jasseyo.
It was hard to get up because I went to bed so late last night.
영어를 배우기 힘들다고 생각했지만, 매일 공부하니까 점점 익숙해졌어요.
Yeongeoreul baeugi himdeuldago saenggakhaetjiman, maeil gongbuhannikkaji jeomjeom iksukhaejeosseoyo.
I thought learning English was hard, but as I studied every day, I gradually got used to it.
건강을 유지하기 힘들지만, 운동을 꾸준히 하고, 잘 먹으면 가능해요.
Geongangeul yujihagi himdeuljiman, undongeul ggujunhi hago, jal meogeumyeon ganeunghaeyo.
Keeping healthy is hard, but it's possible if we exercise regularly and eat well.
저는 한국어를 처음 배울 때, 글자를 외우기 힘들었어요. 하지만 계속 연습하다 보니 점점 쉬워졌어요.
Jeoneun hangugeoreul cheoeum baeul ttae, geuljareul oeuwgi himdeureosseoyo. Hajiman gyesok yeonseuphada boni jeomjeom shiweojeosseyo.
When I first started learning Korean, memorizing the characters was hard. But as I kept practicing, it gradually got easier.

Long explanation:

'힘들다 [himdeulda]' is a common expression used in Korean to depict difficulties or arduousness in doing a certain action, which can equivalently be translated to 'it's hard to' in English. It conveys a sense of struggle, trouble or discomfort, often used in sentences to express physical or emotional hardships or challenges overcoming a particular situation.

Detailed Grammar notes:

Processing keyword: ~힘들다 [himdeulda] (It's hard to)

Korean Grammar Point: ~힘들다 [himdeulda] (It's hard to)

Grammar Point: ~힘들다 (himdeulda) - "It's hard to..."

1. Introduction

The expression ~힘들다 (himdeulda) is used to convey the sense of difficulty or hardship in performing an action or facing a situation. This grammar point is commonly encountered in daily conversations and is essential for expressing challenges.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Detailed Explanation

  • Meaning: The phrase ~힘들다 translates to "it's hard to" or "it is difficult to" in English.
  • Structure: The basic structure is:
    • Verb stem + 힘들다
  • Formation Diagram:
[Verb Stem] + 힘들다

Example Breakdown

  • Verb examples:
    • 가다 (gada) - to go
    • 하다 (hada) - to do
  • Using the structure:
    • 가다 (go) + 힘들다 → 가기 힘들다 (it's hard to go)
    • 하다 (do) + 힘들다 → 하기 힘들다 (it's hard to do)

3. Comparative Analysis

  • Similar Expressions:
    • ~어렵다 (eoryeopda): Also means "it's difficult," but can be used more broadly, not exclusively tied to the physical or mental difficulties of doing something.
    • Usage difference:
      • ~힘들다 emphasizes more on the effort and strain involved, while ~어렵다 can refer to complex or confusing situations.
      • Example:
        • 수학을 하는 것은 어렵다. (Math is difficult.)
        • 운동을 하는 것은 힘들다. (Exercising is hard.)

4. Examples in Context

Sentence Examples

  1. Formal:

    • 한국어를 배우는 것은 힘듭니다.
      (Learning Korean is hard.)
  2. Informal:

    • 오늘은 일하기 좀 힘들어.
      (It's a bit hard to work today.)
  3. Written:

    • 이 프로젝트를 완료하는 것은 정말 힘들었다.
      (Completing this project was really hard.)
  4. Spoken:

    • 운동하기 힘들어?
      (Is it hard to exercise?)

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

  • Politeness Levels: There are different forms used depending on the speaker's relationship with the listener. ~힘듭니다 is more formal, while 힘들어 is used informally.

Idiomatic Expressions

  • "힘든 하루": This phrase means "a hard day," indicating a day filled with difficulties or challenges.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Common Mistakes: Mixing up ~힘들다 with ~어렵다. Make sure to use ~힘들다 to express more physical or strenuous difficulties.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Remember "힘" means “strength” and "들다" can be associated with "to bear" - so it can be useful to remember that "힘들다" refers to the burden of difficulty.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • Meaning: ~힘들다 means "it's hard to" or "it's difficult to."
  • Usage: It's commonly used to express physical or mental difficulty in completing tasks.
  • Variations: Remember the distinction between ~힘들다 and ~어렵다.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. What does ~힘들다 mean in English?
  2. How would you say "It's hard to study" in Korean using this expression?
  3. Which phrase would you use to describe something complex but not necessarily strenuous, ~힘들다 or ~어렵다? Answering these questions will help reinforce your understanding of the grammar point ~힘들다!
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