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B2 adjective #39 よく出る 11分で読める

trying

上位39

練習する例文メモとヒント trying 30秒で

解説 trying in your Level:

The word 'trying' as an adjective is a bit difficult for A1 students because it looks like the verb 'try' (like 'I try to speak English'). At this level, you should know that 'trying' can describe a day or a person that is not easy. Imagine you have a very long day at school. You are tired. Your friends are making a lot of noise. You can say, 'This is a trying day.' It means the day is hard for your feelings. It is not just about work; it is about how you feel inside. You might feel a little bit angry or very tired of the situation. Think about a small baby that cries all night. The parents cannot sleep. The baby is 'trying.' This doesn't mean the baby is 'attempting' to do something; it means the baby is making the parents feel very tired and stressed. In A1, you usually use simple words like 'hard' or 'difficult.' 'Trying' is a more special word. You can use it when you want to show that something is testing your patience. Patience is when you can wait and stay calm. If something is 'trying,' it is trying to take away your calm. Example: 'The bus is late. The rain is cold. This is a trying morning.' Here, you are saying that the morning is testing you. It is a good word to use when many small bad things happen at the same time. You don't need to use it often, but when you do, it shows you know a more interesting word than 'bad.' Remember: 1. A trying person = An annoying person. 2. A trying time = A difficult time. 3. It is an adjective, so it goes before the noun (trying day) or after 'is' (The day is trying). Don't worry if it feels strange at first. Just remember that 'trying' can be a feeling of 'this is too much for me right now.'

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At the A2 level, you are starting to use more adjectives to describe your experiences. 'Trying' is a useful word because it helps you describe situations that are frustrating. While 'difficult' is a general word, 'trying' specifically describes things that test your patience or your mood. For example, if you are learning a new grammar rule and it is very confusing, you might find the lesson 'trying.' It means the lesson is making you feel a bit annoyed or exhausted. You have to try very hard to stay focused and calm. Common phrases you might hear are 'a trying afternoon' or 'a trying experience.' If you go to the supermarket and there are long lines, the music is too loud, and you forgot your wallet, that is a 'trying' experience. It's not just 'hard' (like lifting a heavy box); it's 'trying' because it affects your emotions. When you describe a person as 'trying,' you are being a little bit polite. If you say 'My little brother is being very trying today,' it is nicer than saying 'My brother is being very annoying.' It suggests that he is testing your ability to be a good older sibling. In your writing, you can use 'trying' to add more detail. Instead of saying 'The weather was bad,' you could say 'The constant rain was trying for the tourists.' This shows that the rain didn't just make them wet; it made them feel frustrated and tested their happiness. To remember this word, think of the word 'trial.' A trial is a test. A 'trying' situation is a situation that is a test for you. If you can stay calm during a trying time, you are very strong! Practice using it when you talk about your day. 'Work was very trying today because the computers were slow.' This is a perfect A2 sentence.

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As a B1 learner, you are moving toward more nuanced descriptions of life's challenges. 'Trying' is an adjective that fits perfectly into this transition. It is used to describe circumstances that are taxing, demanding, or annoying. It specifically refers to the strain placed on one's patience or endurance. One of the key things to understand at this level is the collocation 'trying times.' You will often see this in news articles or hear it in speeches. It refers to periods of history or personal life that are full of problems. For instance, 'During these trying times of economic uncertainty, we must help each other.' Here, 'trying' adds a layer of empathy and shared struggle that 'difficult' lacks. Another important use is describing people. If you describe a colleague as 'trying,' you are suggesting they are difficult to work with. Perhaps they ask too many questions, or they don't listen well. It’s a sophisticated way to express frustration. You should also distinguish 'trying' from 'tiring.' If you walk 20 kilometers, it is 'tiring' (physical exhaustion). If you have to explain the same thing ten times to someone who isn't listening, it is 'trying' (mental and emotional exhaustion). In terms of grammar, 'trying' is an -ing adjective. Like 'interesting' or 'boring,' it describes the effect that something has on a person. The situation is 'trying,' and the person feels 'tried' (though 'tried' is less common as an adjective; we usually say 'strained' or 'stressed'). Using 'trying' in your B1 speaking exams can help you achieve a higher score for vocabulary. It shows you can describe not just the facts of a situation, but the psychological impact of it. Try using it in sentences like: 'The long delay at the airport was very trying for the passengers,' or 'I found the constant interruptions quite trying when I was trying to study.'

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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'trying' to describe a variety of complex situations. This adjective is particularly effective for conveying a sense of 'weary endurance.' It suggests that a situation is not just hard, but that it is persistently difficult in a way that gradually wears down a person's resolve. In a professional or academic context, 'trying' is an excellent choice for describing setbacks. For example, 'The research phase was particularly trying due to the lack of reliable data.' This sentence sounds much more professional than using 'hard' or 'annoying.' It implies a serious, objective difficulty that required significant effort to overcome. You should also be aware of the subtle difference between 'trying' and its synonyms like 'taxing' or 'strenuous.' 'Strenuous' is often used for physical effort ('a strenuous workout'), while 'taxing' is often used for mental effort ('a taxing calculation'). 'Trying' is the best word when the difficulty is emotional or related to one's temperament. If a situation makes you lose your temper or feel like giving up, it is 'trying.' Culturally, 'trying' is often used in the phrase 'to try someone's patience.' As an adjective, it captures that exact feeling. If you say, 'The client's indecision was trying,' you are essentially saying they were testing your patience. In your writing, use 'trying' to create a specific mood. It works well in narratives to describe a period of struggle. 'After a trying year of failed experiments, the scientist finally made a breakthrough.' Here, 'trying' emphasizes the persistence required. Finally, note that 'trying' can be used as a mild euphemism. In English-speaking cultures, being direct about someone's faults can be seen as rude. Calling someone 'a bit trying' is a socially acceptable way to signal that you find them difficult without causing a major conflict. Mastering this kind of 'soft' language is a hallmark of the B2 level.

For C1 learners, 'trying' is a versatile tool for nuanced expression. It sits in the semantic field of 'adversity' and 'endurance.' At this level, you should be able to use it to describe not just simple annoyances, but complex, multi-faceted ordeals. It conveys a sense of being 'put to the test'—a trial of one's character, skills, or emotional stability. One sophisticated way to use 'trying' is in the context of 'trying circumstances.' This phrase is often used in legal, formal, or literary writing to describe the external factors that make a person's actions more understandable or excusable. For example, 'The defendant's actions must be viewed in light of the trying circumstances he was facing at the time.' This usage acknowledges that the environment was so difficult that it would have tested anyone's moral or mental strength. You should also explore the use of 'trying' in describing interpersonal dynamics. A 'trying relationship' isn't just one that is 'bad'; it's one that requires constant emotional labor. It implies a cycle of frustration and the need for persistent patience. From a stylistic perspective, 'trying' is an excellent word for maintaining a formal tone while expressing negative experiences. It avoids the colloquialism of 'annoying' and the potential hyperbole of 'unbearable.' It is a measured, precise adjective. Furthermore, consider the adverbial form 'tryingly.' While less common, it can be used to describe how an action is performed in a way that tests others. 'He spoke tryingly slow,' or 'The clock ticked tryingly in the silent room.' This adds a layer of subjective experience to the description. At C1, you should also be able to compare 'trying' with more obscure synonyms like 'vexatious' (legal/formal annoyance) or 'exasperating' (intense frustration). 'Trying' remains the most versatile of these, as it can apply to a person's character, a period of time, or a specific task. It suggests a slow, grinding difficulty rather than a sharp, sudden one. Using it correctly demonstrates a deep understanding of English 'understatement' and the ability to articulate the nuances of human endurance.

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At the C2 level, the adjective 'trying' is understood as a subtle instrument of tone and register. It is often employed to convey a sense of 'existential or psychological tax' without resorting to emotive or dramatic language. It is the language of the stoic—acknowledging the weight of a burden while simultaneously signaling the intent to endure it. In high-level discourse, 'trying' often appears in the context of 'trying times' or 'trying ordeals,' where it serves to dignify the struggle. It suggests that the difficulty is not merely an obstacle to be bypassed, but a transformative experience that probes the depths of one's resilience. For a C2 speaker, 'trying' is the perfect word to describe the 'long-haul' difficulties of life—the slow attrition of a difficult career, the persistent challenges of a complex geopolitical situation, or the exhausting demands of a long-term caregiving role. Consider the nuance in a sentence like: 'The project's success was all the more remarkable given the trying conditions under which the team operated.' Here, 'trying' does more than describe the conditions; it elevates the team's achievement by emphasizing the psychological and environmental resistance they overcame. You should also be sensitive to the word's use in social commentary. Describing a public figure's behavior as 'trying' can be a form of sophisticated critique. It suggests that the figure is not just wrong or incompetent, but that their very presence or actions are a burden on the public's collective patience and decorum. Grammatically, you might see 'trying' used in complex structures, such as 'To find the situation anything other than trying would have required a degree of saintliness the manager did not possess.' This use of litotes (denying the contrary) is a hallmark of advanced English. Ultimately, for the C2 learner, 'trying' is about precision in describing the 'friction' of life. It is the adjective for the 'grind,' the 'test,' and the 'burden.' It captures the essence of what it means to be human in the face of persistent, wearying adversity, and it does so with a classic, understated elegance that is essential for mastery of the English language.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

trying 30秒で

Trying is an adjective used to describe situations or people that are difficult to endure and test your patience or emotional strength over time.
It is commonly found in the phrase 'trying times' to describe periods of collective or personal hardship, such as economic crises or family illness.
When applied to a person, it is a polite way of saying they are annoying or difficult to deal with, suggesting they test your character.
It differs from 'tiring' by focusing on the emotional and mental strain of a situation rather than just the physical exhaustion it causes.

The adjective trying is a sophisticated yet common way to describe situations, periods of time, or individuals that push the limits of your patience, endurance, or emotional strength. Unlike the verb form of 'try,' which implies effort or attempt, the adjective 'trying' focuses on the burden placed upon the observer or participant. When we call a situation trying, we are acknowledging that it is not just difficult in a physical sense, but taxing on our mental and emotional reserves. It is the kind of difficulty that makes you want to sigh deeply or take a long break from the world. It is frequently used in professional contexts to describe a difficult quarter at work, or in personal contexts to describe a colicky infant or a demanding relative.

The Emotional Weight: To describe something as trying is to admit a level of frustration. It suggests that while you are managing to cope, the effort required to do so is significant. It is less intense than 'agonizing' but more serious than 'annoying.'
Social Nuance: In polite society, calling a person 'trying' is a euphemistic way of saying they are difficult to deal with or annoying without being overtly rude. It suggests that the person is testing your character or your ability to remain calm.

"The last few months have been incredibly trying for the whole family, but we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel."

— A common way to describe a period of familial hardship.

In a historical context, 'trying' comes from the idea of 'trial'—a test of quality or strength. Just as gold is tried in a furnace to prove its purity, a person is 'tried' by difficult circumstances. Therefore, a trying experience is one that acts as a crucible for your character. If you survive a trying day at work where everything went wrong, you have effectively passed a test of your professional resilience. This nuance is important: 'trying' implies that there is a standard of behavior or patience that is being challenged. It is not just that the situation is bad; it is that the situation is testing you.

"Dealing with the constant bureaucratic delays was a trying ordeal for the young entrepreneur."

Common Pairings: You will almost always see 'trying' paired with nouns like 'times,' 'circumstances,' 'ordeal,' 'patience,' or 'personality.' These pairings emphasize the duration or the specific human faculty being exhausted.

Ultimately, using 'trying' shows a high level of English proficiency because it demonstrates an understanding of subtle emotional states. It moves beyond basic descriptors like 'bad' or 'hard' and enters the realm of describing the experience of difficulty. Whether you are writing a formal report or venting to a friend, 'trying' provides a precise label for those moments when life feels like an uphill battle against a headwind.

Mastering the use of 'trying' involves understanding its placement and the specific nouns it modifies. As an adjective, it typically precedes a noun or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem.' It is rarely used in the comparative or superlative forms (you wouldn't usually say 'more trying' or 'most trying,' though it is grammatically possible; instead, people use intensifiers like 'extremely' or 'particularly').

Attributive Use (Before the Noun): This is the most common usage. Example: 'We are living through trying times.' Here, it sets the tone for the entire noun phrase, signaling that the period is characterized by hardship.
Predicative Use (After the Verb): Example: 'The children were being particularly trying this afternoon.' In this case, the adjective describes the subject's behavior directly.

"The commute was especially trying today due to the heavy snowfall and multiple accidents."

When using 'trying' to describe people, it is important to note the subtext. If you say, 'My boss is a trying man,' you are implying that his behavior requires a great deal of patience to endure. It is a polite way of saying he is difficult. This is a very useful tool in professional writing where you want to remain diplomatic. Instead of saying 'The client was annoying,' you might write, 'The client's frequent changes to the brief proved trying for the design team.'

Consider the difference between 'a hard day' and 'a trying day.' A 'hard day' might just mean you had a lot of physical work to do. A 'trying day' suggests that things went wrong, people were difficult, and your mental state was challenged. It is a more internal, psychological descriptor. Use it when the difficulty is about the strain on your nerves.

"Despite the trying circumstances of the pandemic, the community came together to support those in need."

Formal vs. Informal: In formal writing, 'trying' is an excellent choice for describing obstacles. In informal speech, it can sound slightly old-fashioned or British, but it is still widely understood and used to add a touch of sophistication to a complaint.

Finally, remember that 'trying' is an absolute-leaning adjective. While you can be 'very trying,' you are usually either in a trying situation or you aren't. It sets a specific mood of weary endurance that few other words can capture as succinctly.

You will encounter 'trying' in a variety of high-stakes and everyday environments. It is a favorite of news anchors, authors, and professionals who need to describe difficulty with a certain level of gravitas. In news broadcasts, especially during times of national crisis, economic downturns, or natural disasters, you will frequently hear reporters refer to 'these trying times.' This phrase has become a bit of a cliché, but it remains the standard way to acknowledge collective hardship.

"The Prime Minister acknowledged that the country is facing a trying winter ahead with rising energy costs."

In literature, 'trying' is used to describe the internal struggle of characters. A novelist might write about a 'trying journey' not just to describe the distance traveled, but to highlight the character's growing exhaustion and waning hope. It is a word that conveys a sense of time passing slowly because of the difficulty involved. If a day is 'trying,' it feels longer than twenty-four hours.

In the Workplace: Listen for this word during performance reviews or project debriefs. A manager might say, 'I know the transition to the new software was trying for everyone,' as a way of validating the team's frustration without blaming the software itself.
In Customer Service: A customer service representative might say, 'Thank you for your patience during this trying process,' when a technical issue takes a long time to resolve. It sounds more empathetic than 'this long process.'

You will also hear it in the context of relationships. When someone says, 'We've had a trying year in our marriage,' they are signaling that they have faced significant challenges that required work and patience to overcome. It is a way of being honest about struggle while maintaining a level of dignity and privacy. It doesn't give away all the details, but it communicates the weight of the experience.

"The coach admitted that the losing streak had been trying for the players' morale."

In summary, 'trying' is a word of the 'middle ground.' It is more serious than 'hard' but less final than 'impossible.' It describes the space where we are tested but still standing. You'll hear it wherever people are acknowledging the reality of effort and the tax it takes on the human spirit.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 'trying' is confusing its grammatical function. Because 'trying' is also the present participle of the verb 'to try,' it is easy to misinterpret its meaning in a sentence. For example, in 'He is trying,' the meaning depends entirely on context. Is he attempting something (verb), or is he annoying (adjective)?

Mistake 1: Verb vs. Adjective: Incorrect: 'The situation was trying to me.' (This sounds like the situation was attempting to do something to you). Correct: 'The situation was trying.' or 'I found the situation trying.'
Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Tiring': While 'trying' and 'tiring' are related, they are not identical. 'Tiring' refers to a loss of physical or mental energy. 'Trying' refers to the quality of the thing that causes the exhaustion. A long run is tiring; a long argument with a stubborn person is trying.

"I'm so trying!" (Wrong: This sounds like you are annoying yourself). "This day has been so trying!" (Right: The day is the source of the stress).

Another mistake is overusing the word in very simple contexts. While you can say 'This math problem is trying,' it usually sounds a bit too dramatic. 'Trying' is better reserved for situations that involve emotional or psychological endurance over a period of time. Using it for a 5-second inconvenience makes the speaker sound slightly pretentious or overly sensitive.

Mistake 3: Misusing the Comparative: Avoid saying 'This is the most tryingest day.' Adjectives ending in -ing almost always use 'more' or 'most' for comparison. 'This is the most trying day I've had all year' is the correct form.

Finally, remember that 'trying' as an adjective is not used to describe a person's effort. You cannot say 'He is a very trying student' to mean he works hard. That would actually mean he is a student who annoys his teachers! To describe effort, use 'hard-working' or 'diligent.'

When 'trying' doesn't quite fit the mood, there are several other adjectives you can use to describe difficulty. Each has a slightly different flavor and level of intensity. Understanding these differences will help you choose the exact right word for your context.

Taxing: Difference: 'Taxing' implies a heavy demand on resources (mental or physical). It is very similar to 'trying' but feels slightly more clinical or objective. 'The exam was taxing' focuses on the energy spent.
Arduous: Difference: 'Arduous' is much more intense and usually refers to physical labor or a long, difficult journey. It implies a great deal of effort over a long time. You wouldn't call a person 'arduous,' but you would call a mountain climb 'arduous.'
Vexing: Difference: 'Vexing' focuses more on the annoyance and frustration. If a problem is 'vexing,' it is confusing and irritating. 'Trying' is broader; it includes the emotional weight, not just the irritation.

"While the hike was arduous, the constant questions from the group were what made the experience truly trying."

Other alternatives include demanding (focuses on the high standards required), grueling (extremely exhausting), and stressful (the most common, modern alternative). 'Stressful' is more casual and focuses on the physiological reaction, whereas 'trying' focuses on the situation's quality of being a test.

Challenging: Difference: 'Challenging' is often used as a positive spin on difficulty. If a job is 'challenging,' it means it's hard but rewarding. 'Trying' is rarely positive; it almost always implies a negative emotional drain.

Choosing between these words depends on what aspect of the difficulty you want to emphasize. If you want to highlight how much it tested your character, 'trying' is your best bet. If you want to highlight how much it made your legs ache, go with 'arduous' or 'strenuous.'

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The legal sense of a 'trial' comes from the same root—it is a process of 'sifting' through evidence to find the truth. The adjective 'trying' emerged in the 18th century to describe something that 'tests' a person.

発音ガイド

UK /ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ/

US /ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ/

The stress is on the first syllable: TRY-ing.

韻が合う語

buying crying dying flying lying prying sighing vying

よくある間違い

Pronouncing it as 'tree-ing'.
Dropping the 'g' at the end ('try-in').
Confusing the vowel sound with 'tray-ing'.
Putting stress on the second syllable.
Failing to blend the 't' and 'r' smoothly.

難易度

読解 3/5

Easy to recognize but requires context to distinguish from the verb 'trying'.

ライティング 4/5

Requires knowledge of common collocations like 'trying times' to use naturally.

スピーキング 4/5

Useful for sounding more sophisticated and diplomatic in conversation.

リスニング 3/5

Common in news and formal speech, usually clear from the tone.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

try difficult hard patient test

次に学ぶ

taxing arduous resilience adversity ordeal

上級

vexatious exasperating strenuous tribulation

知っておくべき文法

-ing adjectives

Trying, interesting, and boring are all adjectives derived from verbs.

Attributive vs. Predicative Adjectives

A trying day (attributive) vs. The day was trying (predicative).

Intensifiers with adjectives

Using 'very,' 'extremely,' or 'particularly' with trying.

Distinguishing Participles from Adjectives

He is trying (verb) vs. He is trying (adjective/annoying).

Comparison of long adjectives

More trying, most trying (not trying-er).

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レベル別の例文

The long wait for the bus was very trying.

Le long temps d'attente pour le bus était très éprouvant.

Adjective following the linking verb 'was'.

It was a trying day at school today.

C'était une journée éprouvante à l'école aujourd'hui.

Adjective modifying the noun 'day'.

My little sister is being trying.

Ma petite sœur est difficile.

Adjective describing the sister's current behavior.

The loud noise is very trying for me.

Le bruit fort est très pénible pour moi.

Used with 'for [person]' to show who is affected.

We had a trying morning because the car did not start.

Nous avons eu une matinée difficile parce que la voiture n'a pas démarré.

Adjective in a noun phrase 'a trying morning'.

Is your work trying today?

Ton travail est-il difficile aujourd'hui ?

Question form using the adjective.

The hot weather is trying for the old dog.

Le temps chaud est éprouvant pour le vieux chien.

Adjective describing the effect of the weather.

This puzzle is very trying!

Ce puzzle est très agaçant !

Simple predicative adjective.

The flight delay was a trying experience for everyone.

Le retard du vol a été une expérience éprouvante pour tout le monde.

Adjective modifying 'experience'.

She found the constant questions from her students quite trying.

Elle a trouvé les questions constantes de ses élèves assez éprouvantes.

Used with the verb 'find' (find something [adjective]).

It has been a trying week with all the exams.

Cela a été une semaine éprouvante avec tous les examens.

Present perfect tense with a trying period.

The broken elevator made the move very trying.

L'ascenseur en panne a rendu le déménagement très difficile.

Adjective describing the quality of the 'move'.

He is a kind man, but he can be trying at times.

C'est un homme gentil, mais il peut être difficile par moments.

Used with 'can be' to show a potential state.

The slow internet was trying for the office workers.

L'internet lent était éprouvant pour les employés de bureau.

Adjective describing a technical frustration.

They stayed calm during the trying situation.

Ils sont restés calmes pendant la situation difficile.

Adjective modifying 'situation'.

Cooking for twenty people was very trying for him.

Cuisiner pour vingt personnes était très éprouvant pour lui.

Gerund phrase as subject followed by the adjective.

The manager apologized for the trying circumstances during the renovation.

Le directeur s'est excusé pour les circonstances difficiles pendant la rénovation.

Formal use of 'trying circumstances'.

Living in a small apartment with four roommates can be very trying.

Vivre dans un petit appartement avec quatre colocataires peut être très éprouvant.

Describing a long-term living situation.

She showed great patience during a very trying time in her life.

Elle a fait preuve d'une grande patience pendant une période très difficile de sa vie.

Collocation: 'trying time'.

The constant noise from the construction site was incredibly trying.

Le bruit constant du chantier était incroyablement éprouvant.

Modified by the intensifier 'incredibly'.

He found the bureaucratic process of applying for a visa very trying.

Il a trouvé le processus bureaucratique de demande de visa très éprouvant.

Describing a complex process.

The toddler's 'terrible twos' phase was a trying period for the parents.

La phase de la 'crise des deux ans' du bambin a été une période difficile pour les parents.

Adjective modifying 'period'.

It was trying to have to wait for the results for three weeks.

C'était éprouvant de devoir attendre les résultats pendant trois semaines.

Introductory 'It was trying to...' structure.

Despite the trying conditions, the hikers reached the summit.

Malgré les conditions difficiles, les randonneurs ont atteint le sommet.

Used with 'despite' to show contrast.

The company went through a trying period of restructuring and layoffs.

L'entreprise a traversé une période difficile de restructuration et de licenciements.

Describing a corporate crisis.

Her behavior was particularly trying during the long car journey.

Son comportement était particulièrement agaçant pendant le long voyage en voiture.

Describing specific behavior over time.

The negotiations were trying, but they eventually reached an agreement.

Les négociations ont été éprouvantes, mais ils ont fini par parvenir à un accord.

Describing a professional process.

I know you've had a trying day, so why don't you sit down and relax?

Je sais que tu as eu une journée éprouvante, alors pourquoi ne pas t'asseoir et te détendre ?

Empathetic use in conversation.

The lack of clear instructions made the task even more trying.

Le manque d'instructions claires a rendu la tâche encore plus difficile.

Comparative structure 'even more trying'.

Dealing with the insurance company proved to be a trying ordeal.

Traiter avec la compagnie d'assurance s'est avéré être une épreuve difficile.

Collocation: 'trying ordeal'.

The athlete's recovery from surgery was a trying time for his morale.

La convalescence de l'athlète après l'opération a été une période difficile pour son moral.

Describing the impact on mental state.

It is trying to work for someone who never gives positive feedback.

Il est éprouvant de travailler pour quelqu'un qui ne donne jamais de commentaires positifs.

Infinitive phrase following 'It is trying'.

The witness's testimony was trying for the family of the victim.

Le témoignage du témoin a été éprouvant pour la famille de la victime.

Describing emotional impact in a formal setting.

The political climate has been exceptionally trying for minority communities.

Le climat politique a été exceptionnellement difficile pour les communautés minoritaires.

Describing a broad social situation.

He possessed a trying personality that often alienated his colleagues.

Il possédait une personnalité difficile qui s'aliénait souvent ses collègues.

Adjective modifying 'personality'.

The long-term care of a sick relative can be a trying responsibility.

La prise en charge à long terme d'un parent malade peut être une responsabilité éprouvante.

Describing a heavy moral/physical duty.

The drought was a trying period for the farmers in the region.

La sécheresse a été une période difficile pour les agriculteurs de la région.

Describing an environmental hardship.

The editor found the author's constant revisions to be quite trying.

L'éditeur a trouvé les révisions constantes de l'auteur assez agaçantes.

Describing a professional frustration.

To maintain one's composure in such trying circumstances is a feat of character.

Garder son sang-froid dans des circonstances aussi difficiles est un exploit de caractère.

Formal 'To [verb]... is a [noun]' structure.

The film depicts the trying journey of refugees seeking a better life.

Le film dépeint le voyage éprouvant de réfugiés à la recherche d'une vie meilleure.

Literary/Cinematic description.

The intricacies of the legal battle proved trying for even the most seasoned attorneys.

Les complexités de la bataille juridique se sont avérées éprouvantes même pour les avocats les plus chevronnés.

Describing a high-level professional challenge.

The philosopher's later years were marked by a trying struggle with cognitive decline.

Les dernières années du philosophe ont été marquées par une lutte éprouvante contre le déclin cognitif.

Describing a personal, existential hardship.

The diplomatic mission was a trying exercise in patience and strategic ambiguity.

La mission diplomatique était un exercice éprouvant de patience et d'ambiguïté stratégique.

Describing a complex, abstract task.

The soloist gave a flawless performance despite the trying acoustics of the hall.

Le soliste a donné une performance impeccable malgré l'acoustique difficile de la salle.

Describing a technical/environmental obstacle.

It is a trying paradox that the most gifted individuals often face the greatest internal turmoil.

C'est un paradoxe éprouvant que les individus les plus doués soient souvent confrontés aux plus grands tourments intérieurs.

Abstract philosophical usage.

The community's resilience was forged in the trying fires of economic depression.

La résilience de la communauté s'est forgée dans les feux éprouvants de la dépression économique.

Metaphorical use of 'trying'.

The constant surveillance was a trying ordeal for the political dissidents.

La surveillance constante était une épreuve difficile pour les dissidents politiques.

Describing a psychological burden.

The author explores the trying nature of grief in her latest collection of essays.

L'auteure explore la nature éprouvante du deuil dans son dernier recueil d'essais.

Describing the quality of an emotion.

よく使う組み合わせ

trying times

trying circumstances

trying ordeal

trying patience

trying experience

trying personality

trying day

trying period

trying conditions

trying relationship

よく使うフレーズ

a bit trying

— A polite or understated way to say something is annoying. Often used in British English.

I must admit, his constant interruptions are a bit trying.

find something trying

— To experience something as difficult or testing of one's patience.

I find it trying when people don't arrive on time.

particularly trying

— Used to emphasize that a situation is especially difficult.

The winter of 2010 was particularly trying for the local farmers.

prove trying

— To turn out to be difficult or testing over time.

The new software proved trying for the older employees.

exceptionally trying

— A formal way to say something is extremely difficult.

The legal battle was exceptionally trying for everyone involved.

most trying

— The superlative form, describing the most difficult thing in a set.

The most trying part of the job is dealing with angry customers.

somewhat trying

— Used to describe a moderate level of difficulty or annoyance.

The delay was somewhat trying, but we made it in time.

rather trying

— A slightly formal way to say something is quite difficult.

It was a rather trying afternoon with the toddlers.

trying for someone

— Indicating who is being affected by the difficulty.

The news was very trying for his elderly parents.

through trying times

— To experience and survive a difficult period.

They supported each other through trying times.

よく混同される語

trying vs tiring

Tiring means making you feel like you need sleep or rest. Trying means testing your patience or being difficult to endure.

trying vs trying (verb)

The verb means 'attempting.' The adjective means 'difficult/annoying.' Context is key.

trying vs tired

Tired is how you feel (the effect). Trying is what the situation is (the cause).

慣用句と表現

"try someone's patience"

— To do something that makes someone lose their calm or become annoyed.

Your constant complaining is really trying my patience.

neutral

"a trial of strength"

— A situation that tests how strong or powerful someone or something is.

The election became a trial of strength between the two parties.

formal

"trials and tribulations"

— The many difficulties and problems that someone has to deal with.

She wrote a book about the trials and tribulations of being a single mother.

literary

"stand the test of time"

— To remain popular or useful for a long period.

This classic novel has stood the test of time.

neutral

"put someone to the test"

— To force someone to prove their ability or character.

The crisis put the new leader to the test.

neutral

"on trial"

— Being tested to see if it is suitable or effective.

We are using the new system on trial for one month.

neutral

"by trial and error"

— A way of learning or solving a problem by trying different methods until one works.

I learned how to use the software by trial and error.

neutral

"acid test"

— A definitive test of the value or quality of something.

The first real game will be the acid test for the new coach.

neutral

"test the waters"

— To try something out to see if it will be successful before committing to it.

We are testing the waters with a small marketing campaign.

informal

"under fire"

— Being severely criticized or tested by a difficult situation.

The CEO is under fire for the company's poor performance.

neutral

間違えやすい

trying vs tiring

They look similar and both describe difficulty.

Tiring is about physical or mental energy loss. Trying is about the emotional strain and the testing of patience.

The marathon was tiring, but the slow runners in front of me were trying.

trying vs hard

Both mean difficult.

Hard is a general term. Trying is more specific to situations that test your temperament or occur over a period of time.

Lifting the box was hard. Dealing with the customer was trying.

trying vs annoying

Both can describe a difficult person.

Annoying is more informal and focuses on the irritation. Trying is more formal and suggests a test of character.

His habit of clicking his pen is annoying. His constant negativity is trying.

trying vs stressful

Both describe high-pressure situations.

Stressful focuses on the pressure and anxiety. Trying focuses on the endurance and patience required.

The deadline was stressful. The technical errors were trying.

trying vs taxing

Both mean demanding.

Taxing is often used for mental or physical resources. Trying is more often used for emotional resources.

The math problem was taxing. The long wait was trying.

文型パターン

It is a trying [noun].

It is a trying day.

The [noun] was very trying.

The wait was very trying.

I found the [noun] quite trying.

I found the long meeting quite trying.

Despite the trying [noun], [clause].

Despite the trying circumstances, we finished the project.

[Gerund phrase] can be a trying experience.

Dealing with legal issues can be a trying experience.

It was a trying time for [someone].

It was a trying time for the entire community.

The [noun] proved to be an exceptionally trying ordeal.

The negotiation proved to be an exceptionally trying ordeal.

Nothing is more trying than [noun/gerund].

Nothing is more trying than constant uncertainty.

語族

名詞

trial

trier

動詞

try

形容詞

trying

untried

使い方

frequency

Common in news, literature, and professional settings.

よくある間違い

Using 'trying' to mean 'hard-working'. → He is a hard-working student.
If you say 'He is a trying student,' you are actually saying he is annoying or difficult to teach!
Saying 'I am trying' to mean 'I am stressed'. → I am finding things very trying right now.
'I am trying' is a verb phrase meaning you are making an effort. Use 'trying' as an adjective for the situation.
Confusing 'trying' with 'tiring'. → The long walk was tiring.
Use 'tiring' for physical exhaustion and 'trying' for emotional or patience-testing situations.
Using 'trying' for a quick, one-time problem. → That was a difficult moment.
'Trying' usually implies a period of time or a persistent annoyance. A 2-second problem isn't usually 'trying.'
Saying 'the most tryingest'. → the most trying
Adjectives ending in -ing always use 'more' and 'most' for comparisons.

ヒント

Use for Diplomacy

In a work email, use 'trying' to describe a difficult situation. It sounds professional and acknowledges the struggle without sounding like a complaint. For example: 'Thank you for your hard work during this trying week.'

Check the Noun

Make sure 'trying' is modifying a noun that can actually be 'tested.' Times, days, and people work well. A 'trying chair' doesn't make sense unless the chair is somehow testing your patience!

Pair with Patience

One of the strongest associations for 'trying' is 'patience.' If you want to describe something that makes you want to scream, say it is 'trying your patience.'

Avoid Overuse

Because 'trying' is a strong word, don't use it for every small problem. Save it for things that truly require endurance or are genuinely annoying over time.

Listen for 'Times'

When you hear 'trying times' on the news, it's a signal that the speaker is about to talk about a serious problem or a period of hardship.

The 'Bit' Trick

If you want to sound more natural, add 'a bit' or 'rather' before trying. 'It was a rather trying afternoon' sounds very fluent.

Narrative Weight

In stories, use 'trying' to show that a character is getting exhausted. It's a great way to build tension without using dramatic words.

Resilience

Remember that 'trying' implies a test. When you use it, you are indirectly highlighting the need for resilience and strength.

Two Syllables

Ensure you pronounce both syllables clearly. It's not 'tryn,' it's 'TRY-ing.' This clarity helps distinguish it from the verb form in fast speech.

Trying vs. Tiring

Always ask: 'Is this making me sleepy (tiring) or is this making me annoyed (trying)?' This will help you choose the right word every time.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'Trial' (a test). A 'trying' situation is a 'trial' for your patience. If you are in a 'trying' time, you are being 'tried' by life.

視覚的連想

Imagine a person trying to hold up a very heavy, annoying rock while people around them are making noise. That person is having a 'trying' time.

Word Web

patience annoying difficult test endurance taxing hardship strain

チャレンジ

Write three sentences describing the most 'trying' experience you had this month. Use the phrase 'trying circumstances' in one of them.

語源

The word 'trying' comes from the Middle English verb 'trien,' which was borrowed from the Old French 'trier.' The Old French word originally meant 'to pick out, sift, or select.'

元の意味： To separate the good from the bad; to test the quality of something.

Indo-European (via Latin 'tritare' - to frequent, and 'terere' - to rub).

文化的な背景

When calling a person 'trying,' be aware that it is a criticism, even if it sounds polite. Use it carefully in direct conversation.

Commonly used in formal speeches, news reports, and polite social complaints.

The phrase 'These are the times that try men's souls' by Thomas Paine (though 'try' is a verb here, it's the root of the adjective). Commonly used in Victorian literature to describe difficult social situations. Frequently used in modern 'self-help' and wellness contexts to discuss resilience.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Workplace Stress

a trying project
trying colleagues
trying deadlines
a trying quarter

Family Life

a trying toddler
trying family matters
a trying move
trying times for the family

Public/Global Events

these trying times
trying economic conditions
a trying political climate
trying circumstances for the nation

Travel/Logistics

a trying journey
trying delays
trying bureaucracy
trying weather conditions

Personal Growth

a trying ordeal
a trying test of character
finding the situation trying
overcoming trying moments

会話のきっかけ

"How do you usually cope when you're having a particularly trying day at work?"

"Do you think people are more or less patient during trying times like a pandemic?"

"What is the most trying experience you've ever had while traveling abroad?"

"Have you ever had a colleague who was very trying? How did you handle them?"

"In your opinion, what makes a situation truly trying rather than just difficult?"

日記のテーマ

Describe a trying period in your life and what you learned about your own resilience.

Write about a person you find trying. Try to describe their behavior without being mean.

Reflect on the phrase 'trying times.' What does it mean to you in the current world context?

How does your body react to a trying situation? What are your physical signs of stress?

Imagine a future where you have overcome all your current trying circumstances. What does that look like?

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, it can. When you call a person 'trying,' you mean they are difficult to deal with or they test your patience. It is a slightly more polite way of saying they are annoying. For example, 'He is a very trying individual.'

It is neutral to formal. It is very common in professional writing, news reports, and literature. It is less common in very casual slang, but still used in everyday speech.

'A hard time' is more general. 'A trying time' specifically suggests that the period is testing your strength, patience, or resilience. It has a slightly more emotional or psychological connotation.

No. You would say 'The situation is trying' or 'I find the situation trying.' If you say 'I am trying,' people will think you are attempting to do something (the verb).

Yes, it is an adverb, but it is quite rare. It means 'in a way that tests one's patience.' For example, 'The minutes passed tryingly slow.'

The most common nouns are times, circumstances, day, experience, ordeal, patience, and personality.

Almost never. It describes something that is a burden or a test. However, overcoming a trying situation is seen as a positive achievement.

It is pronounced TRY-ing, with the stress on the first syllable. The 'y' sounds like the 'i' in 'light.'

It is used in both, but the understated use (e.g., 'a bit trying') is particularly characteristic of British English.

Usually, no. For physical pain, words like 'agonizing' or 'severe' are better. 'Trying' is for things that are mentally or emotionally difficult to endure.

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自分をテスト 200 問

writing

Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) about a trying day you had recently. Use the word 'trying' at least once.