困ります
Komarimasu
It's a problem / I'm troubled
Phrase in 30 Seconds
{困|こま}ります is your go-to polite way to say a situation is causing you trouble or is socially awkward.
- Means: 'I am troubled' or 'This is a problem for me.'
- Used in: Declining requests, reacting to bad news, or expressing social discomfort.
- Don't confuse: It's not for physical pain, only for situational or emotional difficulty.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Expressing that a situation is inconvenient or causing difficulty.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Meiwaku' (trouble) is central. Saying '{困|こま}ります' is a way to signal that someone is causing 'meiwaku' without using the harsh word itself. In negotiations, '{困|こま}ります' often means 'No.' If a Japanese partner says 'That would be a bit of a problem,' they are likely rejecting the proposal. In Kyoto, politeness is even more indirect. '{困|こま}ります' might be used very subtly to indicate you are overstaying your welcome. On Twitter/X, people use '#困った' to share daily frustrations or ask for advice on minor life problems.
The 'Soft No'
If you want to say no to a request without being rude, just say '{困|こま}ります...' and trail off. The other person will get the hint.
Don't over-masu
Avoid saying '{困|こま}るです'. It's a common beginner mistake. Verbs don't take 'desu'.
Bedeutung
Expressing that a situation is inconvenient or causing difficulty.
The 'Soft No'
If you want to say no to a request without being rude, just say '{困|こま}ります...' and trail off. The other person will get the hint.
Don't over-masu
Avoid saying '{困|こま}るです'. It's a common beginner mistake. Verbs don't take 'desu'.
Body Language
When saying '{困|こま}ります', tilt your head slightly. It shows you are genuinely feeling the 'bind'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of {困|こま}る.
{財布|さいふ}を{忘|わす}れて＿＿＿＿＿。
Since the wallet was forgotten (past action), the past tense '{困|こま}りました' is the most natural.
Which is the most polite way to tell someone they shouldn't take photos here?
ここで{写真|しゃしん}を{撮|と}られると...
'{困|こま}ります' is the softest and most polite way to express that an action is not allowed.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {明日|あした}のパーティー、{来|こ}られますか？ B: すみません、{仕事|しごと}が{忙|いそ}しくて...
B is explaining their current state of being busy/troubled, so '{困|こま}っています' fits best.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are at a loss for words because of a difficult question.
'{返事|へんじ}に{困|こま}る' means to be at a loss for an answer.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For small things, '{困|こま}ったな' (Oh, that's a bother) is better.
Yes, but if you are the one who caused the trouble, you should apologize (Moushiwake arimasen) rather than just saying you are troubled.
'Taihen' is an adjective for the situation ('This is tough!'), while 'komaru' is a verb for your reaction ('I'm in a bind!').
Yes, '{彼|かれ}は{困|こま}っています' (He is in trouble).
Use the negative: '{困|こま}っていません' or '{困|こま}らない'.
It's more common for women and children, but men use it too in very casual, slightly playful contexts.
No, use 'onaka ga suita'. 'Komaru' is for when you have no food and no money to buy it.
It refers to a person or thing that is a constant source of trouble.
Yes, it's very common in emails and texts to express that a situation is difficult.
Sometimes, if the embarrassment puts you in a socially difficult spot, but 'hazukashii' is the direct word for embarrassment.
Verwandte Redewendungen
{迷惑|めいわく}
similarTrouble, annoyance, inconvenience.
{大変|たいへん}
similarDifficult, tough, awful.
{悩|なや}む
similarTo worry, to be troubled mentally.
{助|たす}かる
contrastTo be saved, to be helpful.
{弱|よわ}った
similarI'm in a fix / I'm weakened by this.
Wo du es verwendest
Lost in the city
Learner: すみません、{道|みち}に{迷|まよ}って{困|こま}っています。
Local: どこへ{行|い}きたいんですか？
Late for a meeting
Employee: {電車|でんしゃ}が{遅|おく}れて{困|こま}りました。
Boss: {大丈夫|だいじょうぶ}ですよ。{座|すわ}ってください。
Noisy neighbors
Resident: {夜|よる}、うるさくて{困|こま}っているんです。
Manager: {注意|ちゅうい}しておきますね。
Declining an expensive gift
Friend: これ、プレゼントです。
You: えっ、こんなに{高|たか}いものは{困|こま}ります！
Someone cutting in line
You: すみません、{並|なら}んでいるので{困|こま}ります。
Stranger: あ、すみません。
Technical issues during a call
User: {音|おと}が{聞|き}こえなくて{困|こま}っています。
Support: {設定|せってい}を{確認|かくにん}してください。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Co-mar-u' as 'Come on, are you serious? This is a problem!'
Visual Association
Visualize a tree (木) trapped inside a small square box (口). The tree wants to grow, but it's stuck. That's the feeling of 'komaru'.
Rhyme
When you're in a bind and don't know what to do, just say 'komaru' and they'll help you through.
Story
You are a gardener who finds a beautiful sapling. You put it in a tiny pot. Years later, the tree is cramped and the pot is cracking. The tree is 'komaru-ing'. Now imagine that tree is your schedule when someone asks for a favor you can't do.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say '{困|こま}ります' with a slight head tilt and a worried expression next time someone asks you for something impossible.
In Other Languages
Me mete en un lío / Me pone en un aprieto
Japanese uses it as a social buffer; Spanish uses it more for actual logistical problems.
Ça m'embête / Je suis dans l'embarras
French is slightly more direct about the 'annoyance' factor.
Das bringt mich in Verlegenheit
German has separate words for 'inconvenience' (Unbequemlichkeit) and 'social bind'.
أنا في ورطة (Ana fi warta)
Arabic 'warta' is usually for more serious trouble.
我很为难 (Wǒ hěn wéinán)
The kanji are different, but the social function is nearly identical.
곤란해요 (Gollanhaeyo)
Almost no difference; they are linguistic twins.
Isso me complica
Portuguese is more focused on the 'complexity' than the 'trapped' feeling.
I'm in a bind / That's a problem
English speakers often state the problem directly; Japanese speakers state their *feeling* of being troubled.
Easily Confused
Both can mean 'difficult.'
Use 'muzukashii' for a hard task (like math); use 'komaru' for a situation that puts you in a bind.
English 'trouble' can sometimes overlap with physical pain.
Never use 'komaru' for physical pain. Use 'itai'.
FAQ (10)
Yes, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For small things, '{困|こま}ったな' (Oh, that's a bother) is better.
Yes, but if you are the one who caused the trouble, you should apologize (Moushiwake arimasen) rather than just saying you are troubled.
'Taihen' is an adjective for the situation ('This is tough!'), while 'komaru' is a verb for your reaction ('I'm in a bind!').
Yes, '{彼|かれ}は{困|こま}っています' (He is in trouble).
Use the negative: '{困|こま}っていません' or '{困|こま}らない'.
It's more common for women and children, but men use it too in very casual, slightly playful contexts.
No, use 'onaka ga suita'. 'Komaru' is for when you have no food and no money to buy it.
It refers to a person or thing that is a constant source of trouble.
Yes, it's very common in emails and texts to express that a situation is difficult.
Sometimes, if the embarrassment puts you in a socially difficult spot, but 'hazukashii' is the direct word for embarrassment.
