B1 Collocation Formal 1 min de lectura

困難に直面する

konnan ni chokumen suru

Face difficulties

Practícalo

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase when you are standing face-to-face with a serious problem that blocks your progress.

  • Means: To be confronted by a significant obstacle or hardship.
  • Used in: Business reports, news, and serious personal life discussions.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use it for trivial things like losing your keys.
🏃 (Progress) + 🧱 (Obstacle) = {困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}する

Explicación a tu nivel:

This phrase is too hard for now. Just say '{難|むずか}しいです' (It is difficult) or '{困|こま}っています' (I am in trouble). You are talking about a big problem that you see right in front of you.
You can use this to talk about a 'big problem.' It is like saying 'I have a big problem now.' Use it when you want to sound serious. For example, 'I face a big problem at work.'
At this level, you should use this collocation to describe professional or social obstacles. It shows you can use 'Kango' (Chinese-origin words) correctly. It means you are 'confronted with' a situation. Remember to use the particle 'ni' before the verb.
This phrase is essential for formal writing and business discussions. It implies a level of inevitability—that the difficulty has appeared and must be dealt with. You can use it to describe abstract social issues like 'Japan is facing a declining birthrate.'
Analyze the nuance of 'chokumen' as a state of being forced to acknowledge a reality. It is often used in the passive-like 'chokumen saserareru' (to be made to face). It carries a heavy, objective tone suitable for white papers and academic discourse.
Master the existential and psychological implications. 'Chokumen' suggests a lack of psychological distance between the subject and the obstacle. It is a key term in discussing crisis management and the phenomenology of struggle in Japanese literature and sociology.

Significado

To encounter challenging situations or problems.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The phrase reflects the 'Gaman' (endurance) culture. Facing a difficulty is not just a problem to solve, but a test of character. In business, using this phrase shows you are taking the problem seriously and not downplaying it, which is vital for maintaining trust. News anchors use this to maintain an objective, serious distance from the tragedies or issues they report.

🎯

Use with 'To iu'

Combine it with '{という|to iu}' to define the difficulty: '{資金不足|しきんぶそく}という{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}する'.

⚠️

Particle Alert

Never use 'wo'. It's always 'ni'.

🎯

Use with 'To iu'

Combine it with '{という|to iu}' to define the difficulty: '{資金不足|しきんぶそく}という{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}する'.

⚠️

Particle Alert

Never use 'wo'. It's always 'ni'.

💬

Stoic Tone

Using this phrase makes you sound calm and objective, even in a crisis.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the correct particle and verb form.

{会社|かいしゃ}は{倒産|とうさん}の{危機|きき}（　）{直面|ちょくめん}（　）。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

The particle 'ni' is required, and 'shite-iru' describes the current state of the crisis.

Which situation is MOST appropriate for this phrase?

Choose the best context:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: b

This phrase is for serious, large-scale, or formal difficulties.

Complete the dialogue in a job interview.

A: {苦労|くろう}した{経験|けいけん}はありますか？ B: はい、{以前|いぜん}のプロジェクトで（　　　）。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

The standard formal way to describe encountering a hurdle.

🎉 Puntuación: /3

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Elige la respuesta correcta Fill Blank

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
Fill in the correct particle and verb form. Fill Blank B1

{会社|かいしゃ}は{倒産|とうさん}の{危機|きき}（　）{直面|ちょくめん}（　）。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

The particle 'ni' is required, and 'shite-iru' describes the current state of the crisis.

Which situation is MOST appropriate for this phrase? Choose B1

Choose the best context:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: b

This phrase is for serious, large-scale, or formal difficulties.

Complete the dialogue in a job interview. dialogue_completion B1

A: {苦労|くろう}した{経験|けいけん}はありますか？ B: はい、{以前|いぜん}のプロジェクトで（　　　）。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: a

The standard formal way to describe encountering a hurdle.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

3 preguntas

Yes, it's great for reflecting on serious life challenges.

Yes, that is the most common form to describe a current ongoing problem.

'Komaru' is a feeling of being troubled; 'Chokumen suru' is the objective fact of facing the problem.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

{壁|かべ}に{突|つ}き{当|あ}たる

similar

To hit a wall.

🔗

{難局|なんきょく}を{乗|の}り{越|こ}える

builds on

To overcome a difficult situation.

🔗

{危機|きき}に{瀕|ひん}する

similar

To be on the verge of a crisis.

🔗

{立|た}ち{往生|おうじょう}する

contrast

To be at a standstill.

Dónde usarla

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: {今|いま}までで、どのような{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しましたか？

Candidate: {前職|ぜんしょく}でプロジェクトの{予算|よさん}が{削減|さくげん}されるという{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しました。

formal
📊

Business Meeting

Manager: {現在|げんざい}、{原材料|げんざいりょう}の{高騰|こうとう}という{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。

Staff: {早急|さっきゅう}に{対策|たいさく}を{練|ね}る{必要|ひつよう}がありますね。

formal
📺

News Report

Anchor: {地方自治体|ちほうじちたい}は{深刻|しんこく}な{財政難|ざいせいなん}という{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。

Reporter: はい、{住民|じゅうみん}サービスへの{影響|えいきょう}が{懸念|けねん}されています。

formal
👨‍🏫

Talking to a Mentor

Student: {研究|けんきゅう}が{進|すす}まず、{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。

Mentor: それは{誰|だれ}もが{通|とお}る{道|みち}ですよ。{一緒|いっしょ}に{考|かんが}えましょう。

neutral
🚀

Startup Pitch

Founder: {多|おお}くのユーザーが{既存|きぞん}のアプリの{不便|ふべん}さという{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。

Investor: それをどうやって{解決|かいけつ}するのですか？

formal
💔

Relationship Talk

Partner A: {私|わたし}たちの{関係|かんけい}は{今|いま}、{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}していると{思|おも}う。

Partner B: {正直|しょうじき}に{話|はな}し{合|あ}う{時|とき}が{来|き}たんだね。

neutral

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Imagine a **CON**vict (**KON**nan) standing **DIRECT**ly in front of a **MEN**acing wall (**CHOKUMEN**).

Asociación visual

A person in a business suit standing at the edge of a deep canyon, looking straight across at the other side they need to reach.

Story

Tanaka-san was building a bridge. Suddenly, a huge storm washed away his progress. He stood at the riverbank, looking at the wreckage. He was {困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}している. He didn't run; he just looked at the problem directly to figure out the next step.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'Facing a challenge' in English or 'Mianlin kunnan' in Chinese, both using the 'face' metaphor.

Word Web

{解決|かいけつ} (Solution){克服|こくふく} (Overcome){回避|かいひ} (Avoidance){深刻|しんこく} (Serious){壁|かべ} (Wall){危機|きき} (Crisis){立ち向かう|たちむかう} (To confront)

Desafío

Write down one major 'Konnan' you faced this year and how you 'Chokumen-ed' it in three Japanese sentences.

Review this phrase whenever you hear news about the economy or a company's struggles.

Pronunciación

Acento Heiban (Flat) pitch accent for both words.

The 'nn' is a double nasal sound. Make sure to hold the 'n' for two beats.

The 'u' in 'choku' is often devoiced (whispered).

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
{現在|げんざい}、スケジュールに{関|かん}する{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しております。

{現在|げんざい}、スケジュールに{関|かん}する{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しております。 (Project management)

Neutral
{今|いま}、スケジュールのことで{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。

{今|いま}、スケジュールのことで{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。 (Project management)

Informal
ちょっと予定がヤバいことになってるんだ。

ちょっと予定がヤバいことになってるんだ。 (Project management)

Jerga
予定、詰んでるわ。

予定、詰んでるわ。 (Project management)

Derived from Middle Chinese roots. 'Konnan' (Difficulty) appears in early Buddhist texts to describe the suffering of the human condition. 'Chokumen' (Direct-face) became popular in the late 19th century as a translation for Western philosophical and journalistic concepts of 'confrontation'.

Edo Period:
Meiji Period:

Dato curioso

The kanji for 'Kon' ({困|こま}る) shows a tree ({木|き}) inside a box ({口|くち}), representing a tree that cannot grow because it is restricted—the ultimate 'difficulty'.

Notas culturales

The phrase reflects the 'Gaman' (endurance) culture. Facing a difficulty is not just a problem to solve, but a test of character.

“{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}してこそ、{人|ひと}は{成長|せいちょう}する。”

In business, using this phrase shows you are taking the problem seriously and not downplaying it, which is vital for maintaining trust.

“{我々|われわれ}は{現在|げんざい}、{非常|ひじょう}に{厳|きび}しい{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しております。”

News anchors use this to maintain an objective, serious distance from the tragedies or issues they report.

“{被災地|ひさいち}は{深刻|しんこく}な{物資不足|ぶっしぶそく}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。”

Inicios de conversación

“

{最近|さいきん}、{仕事|しごと}や{勉強|べんきょう}でどのような{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しましたか？

“

{日本|にっぽん}が{直面|ちょくめん}している{一番|いちばん}の{問題|もんだい}は{何|なに}だと{思|おも}いますか？

Errores comunes

✗

{困難|こんなん}を{直面|ちょくめん}する

✓

{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}する

wrong preposition
Learners often use 'wo' because they think of 'facing' as a direct object action. However, 'chokumen' requires 'ni' to indicate the point of confrontation.

L1 Interference

0 1
✗

{田中|たなか}さんに{直面|ちょくめん}する

✓

{田中|たなか}さんに{会|あ}う / {対峙|たいじ}する

wrong context
You cannot 'chokumen' a person. It is only for abstract difficulties or situations.

L1 Interference

0
✗

{靴下|くつした}がないという{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}した

✓

{靴下|くつした}がなくて{困|こま}った

wrong register
Using this for trivial things like missing socks sounds unnaturally dramatic.

L1 Interference

0
✗

{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}される

✓

{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}する

wrong conjugation
Learners try to use the passive voice to say 'I was faced with...', but in Japanese, the active 'chokumen suru' already covers this meaning.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

English Very Similar

To be faced with difficulties

Japanese is almost always active voice.

Spanish Very Similar

Enfrentarse a dificultades

Spanish uses a reflexive verb structure.

French Very Similar

Faire face à des difficultés

French uses the verb 'faire' (to make/do).

German moderate

Mit Schwierigkeiten konfrontiert sein

German usually requires the auxiliary 'to be'.

Arabic Very Similar

مواجهة الصعوبات

Arabic uses a verbal noun (masdar) frequently in this context.

Chinese Very Similar

面临困难

Chinese uses 'mianlin' which implies the difficulty is approaching or looming.

Korean Very Similar

어려움에 직면하다

Grammar particles differ, but the vocabulary is identical.

Portuguese Very Similar

Enfrentar dificuldades

Portuguese 'enfrentar' is more versatile and can be used for people too.

Spotted in the Real World

📰

(2023)

“{日本|にっぽん}の{農業|のうぎょう}は{担|にな}い{手不足|てぶそく}という{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}しています。”

A segment on the aging population in rural Japan.

📺

(2013)

“{我々|われわれ}は{今|いま}、かつてない{困難|こんなん}に{直面|ちょくめん}している！”

A high-stakes boardroom meeting during a financial crisis.

Fácil de confundir

困難に直面する vs {困難|こんなん}に{遭|あ}う

Both mean encountering trouble.

'Au' is for accidents or bad luck that happens 'to' you. 'Chokumen' is for a situation you are standing in front of and must deal with.

Preguntas frecuentes (3)

Yes, it's great for reflecting on serious life challenges.

usage contexts

Yes, that is the most common form to describe a current ongoing problem.

grammar mechanics

'Komaru' is a feeling of being troubled; 'Chokumen suru' is the objective fact of facing the problem.

comparisons

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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