difficult task
مهمة صعبة
Use 'difficult task' to describe any significant challenge that requires serious effort to complete successfully.
In 15 Sekunden
- A job requiring significant effort or skill.
- More formal and descriptive than just saying 'hard'.
- Used for physical, mental, or professional challenges.
Bedeutung
A 'difficult task' is something you have to do that requires a lot of effort, skill, or patience to finish. It is basically any job or project that isn't easy and might make you feel a bit tired or stressed.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Talking about a work project
Organizing the international conference was a difficult task for the team.
كان تنظيم المؤتمر الدولي مهمة صعبة للفريق.
Encouraging a friend studying for exams
I know studying for the bar exam is a difficult task, but you can do it!
أعلم أن الدراسة لامتحان المحاماة مهمة صعبة، لكن يمكنك فعل ذلك!
Complaining about house chores
Assembling this flat-pack wardrobe is proving to be a very difficult task.
تجميع خزانة الملابس هذه يثبت أنها مهمة صعبة للغاية.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects the Western 'work ethic' where challenges are viewed as milestones to be achieved. In modern corporate culture, 'task' is a standard unit of work, making this phrase a staple in performance reviews and project management.
The 'Challenging' Swap
In job interviews, use 'challenging task' instead of 'difficult task'. It makes you sound like you enjoy hard work rather than complaining about it!
Don't Overuse It
If you call every little thing a 'difficult task', people might think you struggle with basic things. Save it for the big stuff.
In 15 Sekunden
- A job requiring significant effort or skill.
- More formal and descriptive than just saying 'hard'.
- Used for physical, mental, or professional challenges.
What It Means
Imagine you are trying to build a 1,000-piece puzzle of a clear blue sky. That is a difficult task. It is a phrase we use for anything that makes us sweat a little. It could be physical, like moving a heavy sofa. It could be mental, like learning a new language. It simply means the job ahead is not a walk in the park.
How To Use It
You can use difficult task as a noun phrase in almost any sentence. It usually follows words like is, was, or seems. You might say, "Cleaning the whole house in one hour is a difficult task." It sounds a bit more serious than just saying something is "hard." It makes the job sound like a real project or a mission you need to complete.
When To Use It
Use this when you want to sound clear and professional. It is perfect for work meetings or school reports. You can also use it when talking to friends to emphasize how much work you did. If you just finished a 10-page essay, tell your friend, "That was such a difficult task!" They will immediately understand your struggle. It works well for long-term goals too, like saving money or training for a marathon.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for tiny, annoying things. If you can't open a jar of pickles, calling it a difficult task sounds like you are being a drama queen. In very casual settings with close friends, it might feel a bit too formal. Instead of saying, "Passing me the remote is a difficult task," just say "That's hard to reach." Keep it for things that actually require real brainpower or muscle.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, we love talking about overcoming challenges. Using the word task implies that there is a goal and a finish line. It reflects a "can-do" attitude. Historically, it comes from old labor contexts, but today it is the bread and butter of office life. It is the polite way to tell your boss that the project they gave you is actually going to take a lot of work.
Common Variations
You will often hear people swap difficult for other adjectives. Challenging task sounds a bit more positive, like you are excited to try. Tough task is punchier and feels a bit more informal. If you want to sound very fancy, you could say herculean task, which refers to the Greek hero Hercules. But for your everyday life, difficult task is the reliable old friend that never fails.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile. While 'hard job' is more common in spoken English, 'difficult task' is the preferred choice for writing and professional environments. Avoid using it for trivial matters to maintain its impact.
The 'Challenging' Swap
In job interviews, use 'challenging task' instead of 'difficult task'. It makes you sound like you enjoy hard work rather than complaining about it!
Don't Overuse It
If you call every little thing a 'difficult task', people might think you struggle with basic things. Save it for the big stuff.
The British Understatement
In the UK, someone might say a difficult task is 'a bit tricky'. This is a classic understatement—it usually means it's actually very hard!
Beispiele
6Organizing the international conference was a difficult task for the team.
كان تنظيم المؤتمر الدولي مهمة صعبة للفريق.
Used here to show professional respect for the amount of work done.
I know studying for the bar exam is a difficult task, but you can do it!
أعلم أن الدراسة لامتحان المحاماة مهمة صعبة، لكن يمكنك فعل ذلك!
Shows empathy for the friend's hard work.
Assembling this flat-pack wardrobe is proving to be a very difficult task.
تجميع خزانة الملابس هذه يثبت أنها مهمة صعبة للغاية.
A common everyday frustration.
That 5-mile run was a difficult task in this heat!
كان الجري لمسافة 5 أميال مهمة صعبة في هذه الحرارة!
Short and descriptive for a text message.
Getting out of bed on a Monday morning is always a difficult task.
الخروج من السرير صباح يوم الاثنين هو دائماً مهمة صعبة.
Uses a serious phrase for a relatable, minor struggle for humor.
Moving on after the accident has been a difficult task for the family.
كان المضي قدماً بعد الحادث مهمة صعبة للعائلة.
Used to describe emotional labor and resilience.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a complex project.
Writing a book is a ___, but it is very rewarding.
Writing a book takes months or years of effort, making 'difficult task' the most appropriate description.
Which adjective often pairs with 'task' to mean the same thing?
The manager gave me a ___ task to complete by Friday.
'Challenging' is a common synonym for 'difficult' when describing a task.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Describing Hard Work
Used with close friends.
It's a pain.
Safe for any situation.
It's a difficult task.
Used in official reports.
It is a formidable undertaking.
Where to use 'Difficult Task'
At the Office
Managing the budget.
At School
Solving a math proof.
At Home
Fixing a leaky pipe.
Personal Growth
Breaking a bad habit.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is neutral to slightly formal. You can use it safely with your boss or your grandmother without sounding weird.
Yes, you can, but difficult task sounds a bit more professional. Hard task is more common in casual speech.
A job is often your whole occupation, while a task is one specific piece of work you need to finish.
You usually use it with the verb 'to be'. For example: "Learning to drive was a difficult task for me."
Absolutely. You can say "Forgiving him was a difficult task." It shows that the process took a lot of mental energy.
Use a because difficult starts with a consonant sound. Example: "It was a difficult task."
You can use tough assignment, challenging project, or demanding chore. They all mean something similar.
No, we don't usually call people tasks. You would say a person is difficult to work with instead.
It is used equally in both! It's very common in news articles and business emails, but also in daily conversations.
The opposite would be an easy task or, more idiomatically, a piece of cake.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Uphill battle
A struggle against very difficult odds.
Tall order
A request that is very difficult to fulfill.
No walk in the park
Something that is not easy or pleasant.
Tough nut to crack
A problem that is very hard to solve.
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