How to Say ‘Hard to hear’ in Japanese
聞こえにくい
kikoe nikui
[kee-koh-eh nee-koo-ee]
💬 Usage Tip: [聞こえにくい] is built from [聞こえる] "can be heard" plus [にくい] "hard to do," so it means "hard to hear." You can reuse [にくい] with other verbs too, like [話しにくい] "hard to talk about / hard to speak."
Phrase Breakdown
聞こえ
kikoe
[kee-koh-eh]
can hear; be audible
The stem of 聞こえる, meaning “to be heard” or “can hear.”
音楽で声が聞こえにくいです。
Because of the music, voices are hard to hear.
にくい
nikui
[nee-koo-ee]
hard to; difficult to
Added to a verb stem to mean something is hard to do.
この席は話しにくいです。
This seat makes it hard to talk.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager