How to Say ‘20,000 yen is a bit difficult.’ in Japanese
二万円は少し難しいですね。
ni man en wa sukoshi muzukashii desu ne
[nee MAHN en wah skoh-SHEE moo-zoo-kah-SHEE dess neh]
💬 Usage Tip: The は is said (wa), not (ha), and it sets 20,000 yen as the thing being talked about.
Phrase Breakdown
二万円は
ni man en wa
20,000 yen (as for)
二万円 (niman-en) means 20,000 yen. The topic particle は is pronounced 'wa'. Say 'ni-man-en-wa' smoothly.
二万円は高いです。
20,000 yen is expensive.
Words in this phrase
二
ni
[nee]
two
The number two.
二お願いします。
Two, please.
万
man
[MAHN]
ten thousand
Japanese counts large numbers in units of 10,000.
三万円かかります。
It costs thirty thousand yen.
円
en
[en]
yen
The Japanese currency unit.
チケットは八千円です。
The ticket is 8,000 yen.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
少し難しいですね。
sukoshi muzukashii desu ne
is a little difficult, isn't it
少し (sukoshi) means 'a little'. 難しい (muzukashii) means 'difficult'. ですね softens the statement and seeks agreement. It is a polite way to decline. The 'u' in 'su' is nearly silent.
この問題は少し難しいですね。
This problem is a little difficult, isn't it.
Words in this phrase
少し
sukoshi
[skoh-SHEE]
a little
Adverb meaning a small amount.
砂糖を少し入れます。
I add a little sugar.
難しい
muzukashii
[moo-zoo-kah-SHEE]
difficult
Hard; in business it often softly means 'not possible'.
この問題は難しいです。
This problem is difficult.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
ね
ne
[neh]
isn't it?
Adds agreement, softness, or confirmation.
安心できますね。
It makes you feel at ease, doesn't it?
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