complicado 30秒で
- Complicado means 'complicated' or 'difficult' and is used for problems, situations, or people that are not straightforward.
- It must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes: complicado, complicada, complicados, complicadas.
- It is a very common word in daily conversation, often used as a polite way to describe a mess or a hard situation.
- While similar to 'difícil', it specifically emphasizes the 'tangled' or 'multifaceted' nature of the difficulty.
The word complicado is a fundamental pillar of the Portuguese language, used to describe anything that is not simple, straightforward, or easy to resolve. At its core, it refers to things that are 'folded' or 'intertwined' (from the Latin complicare), suggesting that the components are so mixed together that they are hard to separate or understand. In everyday life, you will hear it applied to math problems, relationship dynamics, bureaucratic processes, and even the weather. It is a versatile adjective that transitions smoothly from formal academic contexts to casual street slang. When a Portuguese speaker says 'É complicado,' they are often expressing a sense of being overwhelmed or acknowledging that a situation has many layers that cannot be easily explained in a single sentence.
- Etymology
- Derived from the Latin 'complicatus', meaning folded together or entangled.
- Gender Agreement
- Must agree with the noun: o problema complicado, a situação complicada.
- Nuance
- Often used as a polite way to say 'no' or to avoid a long explanation.
Este manual de instruções é muito complicado para mim.
Beyond the literal meaning of 'difficult,' complicado carries a heavy emotional weight in Lusophone cultures. It is the go-to word for describing the 'gray areas' of life. Whether it is a legal dispute or a misunderstanding between friends, the word encapsulates the frustration of complexity. It is also important to note its role as a social buffer; saying something is 'complicado' allows the speaker to pause and reflect before committing to a specific answer. In professional settings, it signals that a project requires more resources or time than initially anticipated.
A situação política no país tornou-se bastante complicada ultimamente.
In the digital age, the word has found new life in tech support and software development. A 'complicado' bug is one that involves multiple systems. Linguistically, it is an adjective that requires the verb 'ser' (to be permanently) or 'estar' (to be temporarily), though 'ser' is more common when describing the inherent nature of a task. Understanding this word is essential for A1 learners because it provides a quick way to communicate difficulty without needing a vast vocabulary of specific technical terms.
Não quero tornar as coisas mais complicadas do que já são.
O trânsito em Lisboa está muito complicado hoje.
- Common Collocations
- Problema complicado, assunto complicado, vida complicada.
Using complicado correctly requires attention to two main factors: grammatical agreement and the verb choice. Since it is an adjective, it must change its ending to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. For a masculine singular noun like 'exercício,' we use complicado. For a feminine singular noun like 'pergunta,' we use complicada. In the plural, these become complicados and complicadas respectively. This is a common stumbling block for English speakers who are used to the invariable 'complicated.'
- Masculine Singular
- O caminho é complicado.
- Feminine Singular
- A receita é complicada.
- Plural
- Os problemas são complicados; as tarefas são complicadas.
The choice between 'ser' and 'estar' is also crucial. Use 'ser' when the complexity is an inherent quality of the object (e.g., 'Matemática é complicada'). Use 'estar' when the complexity is a temporary state or a current situation (e.g., 'O trânsito está complicado agora'). This distinction allows you to express whether something is fundamentally hard or just currently messy. Furthermore, complicado can be modified by adverbs like 'muito' (very), 'bastante' (quite), or 'extremamente' (extremely) to add emphasis.
Achei o filme um pouco complicado de entender.
In formal writing, complicado is perfectly acceptable, but you might also consider 'complexo' for a more academic tone. In spoken Portuguese, however, complicado is the undisputed king. It is often used as a standalone response. If someone asks you how your day was and it was filled with stress and obstacles, simply sighing and saying 'Complicado...' conveys everything. It acts as a conversational shortcut that invites the listener to empathize with your struggle without requiring a detailed list of grievances.
You will encounter complicado in almost every sphere of Portuguese life. In the workplace, it is frequently used during meetings to describe project delays or technical hurdles. A manager might say, 'O cronograma está complicado,' indicating that deadlines are at risk. In the realm of bureaucracy—a significant part of life in Portugal and Brazil—you will hear it at the 'Finanças' or 'Cartório' when documents are missing or rules have changed. It serves as a linguistic signal for 'prepare for a long process.'
Resolver este visto na embaixada vai ser complicado.
In social circles, the word is a staple of relationship talk. Friends discussing their dating lives often use complicado to describe 'situationships' or partners who are hard to read. On social media, you might see the relationship status 'É complicado' (It's complicated), mirroring the English Facebook status. It is also common in news broadcasts, where journalists use it to describe international conflicts, economic crises, or legislative debates that lack easy solutions.
- Daily Life
- Ordering at a restaurant with many dietary restrictions.
- Education
- Students discussing a difficult exam or a dense philosophy text.
- Media
- News reports on 'a complicada rede de corrupção'.
Pop culture also embraces the term. Many Fado or Bossa Nova songs use complicado to describe the intricate nature of love and 'saudade'. It is a word that resonates with the human experience of finding the world more tangled than we would like. Whether you are watching a soap opera (telenovela) or listening to a podcast about science, complicado will be there to mark the limits of simplicity.
The most frequent mistake for learners is failing to apply gender agreement. English speakers often treat 'complicado' as a fixed word. Remember: if the noun is feminine (like 'vida'), the adjective must be 'complicada'. Saying 'A vida é complicado' is a clear marker of a beginner. Another common error is the confusion between complicado and 'difícil'. While they are often interchangeable, 'difícil' usually refers to the effort required (hard), whereas complicado refers to the structure or nature of the thing (complex/tangled).
Incorrect: As questões são complicado.
Correct: As questões são complicadas.
Another nuance involves the use of 'complicar' (the verb) versus complicado (the adjective). Learners sometimes use the adjective when they mean the action of making something harder. For example, 'Não complica!' means 'Don't make it difficult!', whereas 'Não é complicado' means 'It isn't difficult.' Additionally, be careful with the preposition 'com'. We say something is 'complicado de fazer' (complicated to do), not 'complicado para fazer' in most standard contexts, though the latter is heard in colloquial speech.
- Agreement Error
- Using the masculine form for feminine nouns.
- Verb Confusion
- Confusing 'ser' (permanent) with 'estar' (temporary).
- False Friends
- Thinking it only means 'complex' in a scientific sense; it's much broader.
Finally, avoid overusing complicado when a more specific word would suffice. If something is physically heavy, use 'pesado'. If a person is mean, use 'mau'. Complicado should be reserved for things that have multiple parts or are hard to solve mentally or socially. Overuse can make your speech sound vague or repetitive, especially at higher CEFR levels where synonyms like 'intrincado' or 'espinhoso' are expected.
While complicado is the most common term, Portuguese offers a rich palette of synonyms to describe difficulty. 'Difícil' is the most direct alternative, focusing on the lack of ease. 'Complexo' is slightly more formal and is often used in scientific, technical, or philosophical contexts to describe systems with many interconnected parts. If a situation is particularly messy or involves many obstacles, you might use 'intrincado' (intricate) or 'espinhoso' (thorny/prickly).
- Difícil
- Hard; requires effort. 'O exame foi difícil.'
- Complexo
- Complex; has many parts. 'Um sistema complexo.'
- Trabalhoso
- Laborious; takes a lot of work. 'Um processo trabalhoso.'
In more colloquial settings, especially in Brazil, you might hear 'enrolado'. This literally means 'rolled up' or 'tangled' and is used to describe someone who is unreliable or a situation that is stuck in bureaucracy. Another informal term is 'foda' (vulgar), used to describe something extremely difficult or impressive. On the other end of the spectrum, 'árduo' is a high-level literary word used for great challenges, like 'uma tarefa árdua' (an arduous task).
O caso jurídico é extremamente complexo e envolve vários países.
Understanding these synonyms helps you navigate different social registers. While complicado works everywhere, using 'intrincado' in a literature essay or 'enrolado' with friends will make you sound more like a native speaker. Each word carries a slightly different 'flavor' of difficulty, allowing you to be precise about whether the problem is just hard (difícil), multifaceted (complexo), or messy (enrolado).
How Formal Is It?
""
""
難易度
知っておくべき文法
レベル別の例文
O livro é complicado.
The book is complicated.
Masculine singular agreement.
A lição é complicada.
The lesson is complicated.
Feminine singular agreement.
Os exercícios são complicados.
The exercises are complicated.
Masculine plural agreement.
As perguntas são complicadas.
The questions are complicated.
Feminine plural agreement.
Isto é muito complicado.
This is very complicated.
Using 'isto' (neutral) with masculine singular.
Não é complicado.
It is not complicated.
Negative sentence structure.
O jogo é complicado?
Is the game complicated?
Question form.
O nome dele é complicado.
His name is complicated.
Describing an abstract noun.
O trânsito está muito complicado hoje.
The traffic is very complicated today.
Using 'estar' for a temporary state.
A situação está complicada para nós.
The situation is complicated for us.
Feminine agreement with 'situação'.
Achei este manual um pouco complicado.
I found this manual a bit complicated.
Using 'achar' (to find/think).
Cozinhar isto é complicado.
Cooking this is complicated.
Infinitive as subject.
O meu dia foi muito complicado.
My day was very complicated.
Past tense 'foi' (ser).
As regras do futebol são complicadas.
The rules of football are complicated.
Plural feminine agreement.
Ele é um homem complicado.
He is a complicated man.
Describing personality.
O caminho para a praia é complicado.
The way to the beach is complicated.
Describing a physical route.
Eles têm uma relação muito complicada.
They have a very complicated relationship.
Abstract noun usage.
O sistema de saúde é bastante complicado.
The health system is quite complicated.
Describing a system.
É complicado explicar o que aconteceu.
It's complicated to explain what happened.
Impersonal 'É' + infinitive.
Não quero tornar o processo mais complicado.
I don't want to make the process more complicated.
Using 'tornar' (to make/become).
A burocracia aqui é sempre complicada.
The bureaucracy here is always complicated.
Cultural context.
O problema tornou-se complicado de repente.
The problem became complicated suddenly.
Pronominal verb 'tornar-se'.
Achei a explicação dele muito complicada.
I found his explanation very complicated.
Direct object agreement.
Viver sozinho pode ser complicado às vezes.
Living alone can be complicated sometimes.
Modal verb 'pode'.
A conjuntura económica atual é extremamente complicada.
The current economic situation is extremely complicated.
Formal vocabulary 'conjuntura'.
Trata-se de um assunto jurídico bastante complicado.
It is a rather complicated legal matter.
Formal 'Trata-se de'.
O autor utiliza uma linguagem complicada propositadamente.
The author uses complicated language on purpose.
Adverb 'propositadamente'.
A rede de corrupção era mais complicada do que parecia.
The corruption network was more complicated than it seemed.
Comparative structure.
Ficou tudo complicado quando ele se demitiu.
Everything got complicated when he resigned.
Using 'ficar' to show change of state.
Gerir uma equipa grande é uma tarefa complicada.
Managing a large team is a complicated task.
Gerund-like infinitive subject.
As negociações de paz são sempre complicadas.
Peace negotiations are always complicated.
Political context.
O enredo do filme é tão complicado que me perdi.
The movie's plot is so complicated that I got lost.
Consecutive clause 'tão... que'.
A teia de interesses envolvida é assustadoramente complicada.
The web of interests involved is frighteningly complicated.
Metaphorical usage.
O diagnóstico médico revelou um quadro clínico complicado.
The medical diagnosis revealed a complicated clinical picture.
Medical register.
A interpretação deste poema é particularmente complicada.
The interpretation of this poem is particularly complicated.
Literary analysis.
O cenário geopolítico tornou-se cada vez mais complicado.
The geopolitical scenario has become increasingly complicated.
Progressive 'cada vez mais'.
Não podemos ignorar a natureza complicada do ser humano.
We cannot ignore the complicated nature of the human being.
Philosophical context.
A implementação do novo software provou ser complicada.
The implementation of the new software proved to be complicated.
Verb 'provar' (to prove).
As nuances da língua portuguesa são complicadas para estrangeiros.
The nuances of the Portuguese language are complicated for foreigners.
Linguistic context.
O debate sobre a ética na IA é extremamente complicado.
The debate on ethics in AI is extremely complicated.
Modern technological context.
A hermenêutica do texto revela uma estrutura complicada.
The hermeneutics of the text reveals a complicated structure.
Academic register.
Subjacente a esta decisão está um processo complicado.
Underlying this decision is a complicated process.
Inverted sentence structure.
A dialética entre as partes tornou o acordo complicado.
The dialectic between the parties made the agreement complicated.
Advanced philosophical terms.
O intrincado sistema de castas é deveras complicado.
The intricate caste system is truly complicated.
Use of 'deveras' (truly).
A fenomenologia da percepção é um campo complicado.
The phenomenology of perception is a complicated field.
Scientific/Philosophical register.
Eis uma questão complicada que exige reflexão profunda.
Here is a complicated question that demands deep reflection.
Use of 'Eis' (Here is).
A volatilidade do mercado torna o investimento complicado.
Market volatility makes investment complicated.
Financial register.
A confluência de fatores resultou numa situação complicada.
The confluence of factors resulted in a complicated situation.
Advanced noun 'confluência'.
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
É complicado.
Não complica!
Tornar as coisas complicadas.
Um pouco complicado.
Muito complicado.
Ficou complicado.
Nada complicado.
Parece complicado.
Assunto muito complicado.
Caso complicado.
よく混同される語
慣用句と表現
""
""
""
""
""
""
""
""
""
""
間違えやすい
文型パターン
使い方
Can be used as a polite 'no'.
Extremely high in daily speech.
- Saying 'A vida é complicado' (Incorrect gender agreement).
- Using 'complicado' for physical weight (Use 'pesado' instead).
- Forgetting the nasal sound in 'com-'.
- Using 'complicado' when you mean 'confused' (Use 'confuso' for people).
- Overusing it in formal essays where 'complexo' would be better.
ヒント
Gender Agreement
Always check the gender of the noun. If you are talking about 'a vida', use 'complicada'. If you are talking about 'o trabalho', use 'complicado'. This is the most common mistake for beginners.
Synonym Choice
Use 'complexo' if you want to sound more academic or professional. Use 'complicado' for everyday situations like traffic, homework, or relationship problems. Both are correct, but 'complexo' is more formal.
The 'É complicado' Shield
If someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, just say 'É complicado...' with a sigh. It's a culturally accepted way to end a conversation topic politely.
Nasal Sounds
The first syllable 'com' is nasal. Try to practice this by closing your nose slightly when you say it. It should sound like 'kõ', not 'kom' with a hard 'm'.
Adverb Use
You can use 'meio' (a bit) or 'muito' (very) to modify 'complicado'. Note that 'meio' stays masculine even if the adjective is feminine: 'Ela está meio complicada'.
Bureaucracy
When dealing with government offices in Portugal or Brazil, expect to hear 'complicado'. It usually means you need more documents or the process will take a long time.
Cognate Power
Since it looks like 'complicated', use that to your advantage. Just remember to change the ending to 'o' or 'a' depending on what you are talking about.
Ser vs Estar
Use 'ser' for things that are always hard (like math). Use 'estar' for things that are messy right now (like your desk or the traffic). This adds precision to your Portuguese.
The Final 'O'
In many dialects, especially in Portugal and Brazil, the final 'o' in 'complicado' sounds like a 'u'. Practice saying 'com-pli-ca-du' for a more natural sound.
Empathy
When a friend tells you about a problem, saying 'Pois, é complicado' is a great way to show empathy without having to give advice they might not want.
暗記しよう
語源
Latin
文化的な背景
Frequently used in the context of interpersonal relationships and 'jeitinho'.
Often used to describe the complexity of legal or state-related tasks.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
会話のきっかけ
"O que achas deste exercício? É complicado?"
"A tua vida está muito complicada ultimamente?"
"Achaste o filme complicado de entender?"
"Por que é que a burocracia é tão complicada?"
"É complicado aprender português?"
日記のテーマ
Escreve sobre uma situação complicada que resolveste.
O que é mais complicado para ti: gramática ou vocabulário?
Descreve um dia em que tudo foi complicado.
Por que é que as relações humanas são complicadas?
Faz uma lista de coisas que não são complicadas.
よくある質問
10 問'Difícil' usually means something requires a lot of effort to do. 'Complicado' means something has many parts or is confusing. However, in many cases, they can be used interchangeably in Portuguese.
Yes, it must agree with the noun. Use 'complicado' for masculine nouns and 'complicada' for feminine nouns. For example: 'o livro complicado' and 'a lição complicada'.
Yes, describing someone as 'uma pessoa complicada' means they have a difficult personality or are hard to understand/deal with. It is a common way to describe someone.
It is neutral. You can use it in a casual conversation with friends, but it is also perfectly acceptable in a formal business meeting or a written report.
You say 'É complicado.' This is used exactly like the English phrase to describe situations that don't have a simple explanation or solution.
The plural is 'complicados' for masculine and 'complicadas' for feminine. For example: 'problemas complicados' or 'tarefas complicadas'.
Yes. Use 'estar' when the complexity is temporary. For example, 'O trânsito está complicado' means the traffic is bad right now, but it might not always be.
The most common opposites are 'simples' (simple) and 'fácil' (easy). You can also use 'claro' (clear) if you mean something is easy to understand.
Yes, the verb is 'complicar', which means 'to complicate' or 'to make things difficult'. For example: 'Não compliques as coisas!' (Don't complicate things!).
It is pronounced 'com-pli-CA-do'. The 'com' is nasal, and the stress is on the 'ca' syllable. The 'o' at the end is often pronounced like a soft 'u'.
自分をテスト 180 問
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'complicado' is your essential tool for describing anything that isn't simple. From a hard math problem to a messy breakup, it covers all bases of complexity while requiring careful attention to gender and number agreement.
- Complicado means 'complicated' or 'difficult' and is used for problems, situations, or people that are not straightforward.
- It must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes: complicado, complicada, complicados, complicadas.
- It is a very common word in daily conversation, often used as a polite way to describe a mess or a hard situation.
- While similar to 'difícil', it specifically emphasizes the 'tangled' or 'multifaceted' nature of the difficulty.
Gender Agreement
Always check the gender of the noun. If you are talking about 'a vida', use 'complicada'. If you are talking about 'o trabalho', use 'complicado'. This is the most common mistake for beginners.
Synonym Choice
Use 'complexo' if you want to sound more academic or professional. Use 'complicado' for everyday situations like traffic, homework, or relationship problems. Both are correct, but 'complexo' is more formal.
The 'É complicado' Shield
If someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, just say 'É complicado...' with a sigh. It's a culturally accepted way to end a conversation topic politely.
Nasal Sounds
The first syllable 'com' is nasal. Try to practice this by closing your nose slightly when you say it. It should sound like 'kõ', not 'kom' with a hard 'm'.
関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
関連フレーズ
generalの関連語
a cerca de
B1About; approximately.
à direita
A2右に、または右側に。方向や場所を示すために使われます。
à esquerda
A2左側に。方向を示したり、場所を説明したりするために使用されます。
a fim de
A2in order to
à frente
A2の前に (No mae ni). '彼は私の前にいます。'
a frente
A2前方に; 前に
À frente de
A2〜の前に、または〜を率いて。「車の前に木があります」。
a tempo
A2間に合って、時間通りに。手遅れになる前に行動することを指します。
à volta de
A2Around.
abaixo
A1〜の下に; 以下に。
