Signification
Describing something hard to do.
Contexte culturel
Estonians value 'vaev' (effort). A common proverb is 'Raske õppustel, kerge lahingus' (Hard in training, easy in battle). Like their Nordic neighbors, Estonians have a high tolerance for 'raske' conditions, especially weather. Complaining about the cold is rare; it's just 'raske suusailm' (hard skiing weather). In Estonian startups, 'raske' is often used as a badge of honor. A 'raske väljakutse' (hard challenge) is something to be sought after. Estonians are known for being 'raske avaneda' (hard to open up). It takes time to build trust and friendship.
The 'Is it heavy?' test
If you can imagine the difficulty as a physical weight on your shoulders, 'raske' is the right word.
Avoid 'kõva'
English speakers often say 'kõva' for difficult tasks. This sounds like you're saying the task is made of stone.
Signification
Describing something hard to do.
The 'Is it heavy?' test
If you can imagine the difficulty as a physical weight on your shoulders, 'raske' is the right word.
Avoid 'kõva'
English speakers often say 'kõva' for difficult tasks. This sounds like you're saying the task is made of stone.
Use 'Mul on raske'
To sound more native when you are struggling, use the 'Mul on...' structure instead of 'See on...'.
Honesty over Politeness
Don't be afraid to say 'See on raske' to an Estonian. They prefer honesty over fake ease.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'raske'.
See kohver on väga ____.
We need the basic adjective form to describe the suitcase.
Which sentence means 'I am having a hard time'?
Choose the correct Estonian translation.
'Mul on raske' uses the adessive case to express personal struggle.
Match the Estonian phrase to its English meaning.
Match the pairs.
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kas sa aitad mind selle kastiga? B: Jaa, muidugi. Oh sa poiss, ____!
The context of helping with a box implies it is heavy.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Raske vs. Kõva
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSee kohver on väga ____.
We need the basic adjective form to describe the suitcase.
Choose the correct Estonian translation.
'Mul on raske' uses the adessive case to express personal struggle.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
A: Kas sa aitad mind selle kastiga? B: Jaa, muidugi. Oh sa poiss, ____!
The context of helping with a box implies it is heavy.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, 'raske inimene' means someone who is difficult to deal with or has a tough personality.
'Raske' is about effort and weight; 'keeruline' is about complexity and having many parts.
Use 'liiga raske'. For example: 'See on liiga raske ülesanne.'
No, Estonian has no grammatical gender, so 'raske' stays the same for all nouns.
Yes, in contexts like 'raske haigus' (serious illness) or 'raske süüteo' (serious crime).
It is neutral. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings.
You say 'See läheb raskemaks'.
The plural is 'rasked'. Example: 'Need kivid on rasked.'
Yes, 'raske toit' means heavy or rich food that is hard to digest.
Younger people might say 'raske pähkel' (a hard nut) for a difficult problem.
Expressions liées
See on keeruline
similarThis is complex
See on kerge
contrastThis is easy/light
Rasket tööd tegema
builds onTo do hard work
Raske südamega
specialized formWith a heavy heart
