困難を乗り越える
konnan o norikoeru
overcome difficulties
Literally: difficulty (noun) + object marker + to climb over/surmount (verb)
In 15 Seconds
- To successfully pass through a difficult life challenge.
- Combines 'difficulty' with the verb for 'climbing over'.
- Used for personal growth, business hurdles, and emotional recovery.
Meaning
This phrase is all about pushing through a tough situation and coming out on the other side. It’s like facing a giant hurdle and successfully jumping over it to keep moving forward.
Key Examples
3 of 6Encouraging a colleague during a tough project
チーム全員で協力して、この困難を乗り越えましょう。
Let's work together as a team and overcome this difficulty.
Talking about a past breakup to a friend
失恋の困難を乗り越えるのに、一年もかかっちゃった。
It took me a whole year to get over the hardship of that breakup.
A student talking about exam season
受験という大きな困難を乗り越えて、やっと大学生になれた。
I overcame the great difficulty of entrance exams and finally became a college student.
Cultural Background
The phrase is often used in 'Seishun' (youth) media to highlight the transition from childhood to adulthood through struggle. In 'Chorei' (morning meetings), leaders use this phrase to build solidarity during market downturns. The concept of 'Konjo' (guts) is often expressed through the ability to 'norikoeru' brutal training camps. Historically, this phrase was central to the national psyche during the rapid economic growth period after WWII.
Use with 'Nantoka'
Pair it with '{何|なん}とか' (somehow) to sound more natural: '{何|なん}とか{乗|の}り{越|こ}えました' (I somehow got through it).
Avoid Triviality
Never use this for things that are just 'annoying.' It must be a 'difficulty' ({困難|こんなん}).
In 15 Seconds
- To successfully pass through a difficult life challenge.
- Combines 'difficulty' with the verb for 'climbing over'.
- Used for personal growth, business hurdles, and emotional recovery.
What It Means
Imagine you are hiking and a massive fallen tree blocks your path. You don't turn back. You climb over it. That is 困難を乗り越える. It describes the act of facing hardships, obstacles, or crises and successfully moving past them. It implies effort, resilience, and a positive outcome.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you want to talk about overcoming something significant. The grammar is simple: [The Difficulty] + を + 乗り越える. You can use it in the past tense (乗り越えた) to celebrate a victory. You can also use it in the volitional form (乗り越えよう) to encourage someone. It feels active and empowering. It’s not just about enduring pain; it's about conquering it.
When To Use It
This is a versatile phrase for many life stages. Use it when discussing a tough project at work with your boss. Use it when a friend is going through a messy breakup. It’s perfect for graduation speeches or wedding toasts. You’ll also see it in news reports about communities recovering from natural disasters. If the situation feels like a 'mountain' to climb, this is your phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for tiny, everyday inconveniences. If you ran out of milk, you didn't 困難を乗り越える. That sounds way too dramatic! Using it for small things makes you sound like a theater kid looking for attention. Also, avoid it if the 'difficulty' is actually a person you just don't like. It's for situations and challenges, not for winning an argument with your neighbor.
Cultural Background
Japan has a deep cultural respect for perseverance, often called 忍耐 (nintai). The 'Ganbaru' spirit is real. Overcoming hardship is seen as a way to build character. This phrase captures that collective admiration for people who don't quit. It’s often used in sports anime when the protagonist is losing but finds a second wind. It’s a very 'heroic' way to speak.
Common Variations
You might hear 壁を乗り越える (climb over a wall). This is a more visual way to say the same thing. Another common one is 試練を乗り越える (overcome a trial). This version sounds a bit more 'destiny-focused' or spiritual. If you want to sound very formal, you might use 克服する (kokufuku suru), but that feels more like a medical or technical 'conquering.'
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any context. Just ensure the 'difficulty' is significant enough to warrant the verb 'to surmount.'
Use with 'Nantoka'
Pair it with '{何|なん}とか' (somehow) to sound more natural: '{何|なん}とか{乗|の}り{越|こ}えました' (I somehow got through it).
Avoid Triviality
Never use this for things that are just 'annoying.' It must be a 'difficulty' ({困難|こんなん}).
The Power of 'Together'
Japanese people love saying '{一緒|いっしょ}に{乗|の}り{越|こ}えましょう' (Let's overcome this together). It's a key phrase for social bonding.
Examples
6チーム全員で協力して、この困難を乗り越えましょう。
Let's work together as a team and overcome this difficulty.
A classic way to build morale in a professional setting.
失恋の困難を乗り越えるのに、一年もかかっちゃった。
It took me a whole year to get over the hardship of that breakup.
Shows that the phrase can apply to emotional struggles.
受験という大きな困難を乗り越えて、やっと大学生になれた。
I overcame the great difficulty of entrance exams and finally became a college student.
Reflects a major life milestone.
君なら絶対に乗り越えられるよ！応援してる！
You can definitely get through this! I'm rooting for you!
The verb alone is often used when the context is clear.
月曜日の朝に起きるという困難を、今日も乗り越えたぞ。
I have once again overcome the difficulty of waking up on a Monday morning.
Using a heavy phrase for a small task creates a funny contrast.
我々は数々の困難を乗り越え、今日この日を迎えました。
We have overcome numerous difficulties to reach this day.
Standard phrasing for formal speeches and ceremonies.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
{私|わたし}たちは{力|ちから}を{合|あ}わせて、この{困難|こんなん}（ ）{乗|の}り（ ）。
The particle must be 'を' and the verb should be in the volitional form '{越|こ}えましょう' (let's overcome).
Which situation is MOST appropriate for using '{困難|こんなん}を{乗|の}り{越|こ}える'?
Select the best context:
This phrase is reserved for significant hardships like disaster recovery.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {仕事|しごと}が{大変|たいへん}そうですね。 B: はい、でもこれを（ ）もっと{成長|せいちょう}できると{信|しん}じています。
All these conditional forms work, but '{乗|の}り{越|こ}えれば' is the most natural for expressing a result based on an action.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercises{私|わたし}たちは{力|ちから}を{合|あ}わせて、この{困難|こんなん}（ ）{乗|の}り（ ）。
The particle must be 'を' and the verb should be in the volitional form '{越|こ}えましょう' (let's overcome).
Select the best context:
This phrase is reserved for significant hardships like disaster recovery.
A: {仕事|しごと}が{大変|たいへん}そうですね。 B: はい、でもこれを（ ）もっと{成長|せいちょう}できると{信|しん}じています。
All these conditional forms work, but '{乗|の}り{越|こ}えれば' is the most natural for expressing a result based on an action.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsYes, but only if the exam was exceptionally difficult for you. For a normal exam, use '{合格|ごうかく}する'.
{越|こ}える is for passing a point (time/place/hurdle). {超|こ}える is for exceeding a limit (speed/amount).
Yes, it's very appropriate when reporting that a problem has been solved.
Related Phrases
{克服|こくふく}する
synonymTo conquer or overcome (formal).
{打|う}ち{勝|か}つ
similarTo defeat or triumph over.
{切|き}り{抜|ぬ}ける
similarTo pull through a crisis.
{壁|かべ}にぶつかる
contrastTo hit a wall.
