難しい vs 厳しい
JLPT N5 vocabulary · what is the difference?
難しい means hard to do or hard to understand — a task, a kanji, an exam. 厳しい means strict or severe: a person who does not let things slide, or conditions that are harsh. 厳しい先生 is a teacher who enforces the rules, not a teacher whose lessons are difficult.
When to use each
難しい
むずかしい
Use 難しい when something takes effort or skill, or cannot easily be understood or achieved: questions, books, kanji, problems, plans that are hard to carry out.
この漢字は読み方が難しいです。
このかんじはよみかたがむずかしいです。
The reading of this kanji is difficult.
今日中に終わらせるのは難しいです。
きょうじゅうにおわらせるのはむずかしいです。
Finishing it today would be difficult.
厳しい
きびしい
Use 厳しい for people or rules that demand a lot and forgive little, and for harsh conditions such as weather, competition or a financial situation.
この学校は規則が厳しいです。
このがっこうはきそくがきびしいです。
The rules at this school are strict.
北海道の冬は寒さが厳しい。
ほっかいどうのふゆはさむさがきびしい。
Winters in Hokkaido are severe.
Sentences where only one works
厳しい先生ですが、教え方は分かりやすいです。
きびしいせんせいですが、おしえかたはわかりやすいです。
He's a strict teacher, but his explanations are easy to follow.
Proof that 厳しい is about attitude, not difficulty — the same teacher can be strict and easy to understand.
この試験は難しいです。
このしけんはむずかしいです。
This exam is difficult.
The questions are hard, so 難しい. 厳しい試験 would suggest harsh marking or harsh conditions instead.
厳しく注意されました。
きびしくちゅういされました。
I was told off sternly.
Only 厳しい has this sense of severity in how someone treats you.
その計画は実現が難しい。
そのけいかくはじつげんがむずかしい。
That plan is difficult to realise.
Hard to achieve, so 難しい.
Common mistakes
この問題は厳しいです。
この問題は難しいです。
A question cannot be strict. 厳しい with 問題 would only work in the sense of a grim situation, not a hard exercise.
父は難しい人です。
父は厳しい人です。
難しい人 exists but means an awkward person who is hard to deal with — not a strict parent. If you mean your father enforces rules, 厳しい is the word.
Frequently asked questions
Can 厳しい mean difficult?
Indirectly. 厳しい状況 or 予算的に厳しい means the situation is tough or barely possible — harsh circumstances, not an intellectual challenge. For a hard task or question, use 難しい.
Is 難しい人 the same as 厳しい人?
No. 難しい人 is someone hard to please or hard to get along with; 厳しい人 is someone demanding who holds you to high standards. The second can be said with respect.
How do I say a class is hard?
授業が難しい for the content. If the teacher demands a lot and punishes lateness, that is 授業が厳しい or 先生が厳しい.