Cannot afford to: -기가 어렵다

This pattern turns a verb into a noun. Then it describes that noun as difficult. You start with any action verb you like. You attach -기 to the verb stem. This -기 acts like a magic glue. it turns "to buy" into "buying." Then you add the subject particle -가. Finally, you add the adjective 어렵다. Together, they describe a situation that is tough. It is not just about physical difficulty. It is often about external circumstances. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It turns yellow when things get complicated. It does not mean "stop" immediately. It means "proceed with great caution or effort."

1. 1Pick your action verb first. Let's use 사다 (to buy).
2. 2Drop the 다 from the end. Now you have the stem 사.
3. 3Attach the noun-maker -기 to the stem. It becomes 사기.
4. 4Add the subject particle -가 for emphasis. Now you have 사기가.
5. 5Finish with the adjective 어렵다 (to be difficult).
6. 6The final result is 사기가 어렵다 (It is hard to buy).
7. 7For polite speech, use 사기가 어려워요.
8. 8For formal situations, use 사기가 어렵습니다.

Use this when you have a valid reason. Maybe your schedule is too packed. You could say 만나기가 어려워요 (It is hard to meet). This is softer than saying "I can't meet." It sounds less like a rejection. It sounds more like a situational problem. Use it for financial constraints too. If a car is too expensive, use 사기가 어렵다. It means you lack the funds right now. Use it for social situations as well. Asking a boss for a favor is hard. You can say 말하기가 어려워요 (It is hard to say). It shows you feel some social pressure. It is perfect for job interviews. You can explain why a task is challenging. It makes you sound very professional and honest.

Do not use this for simple physical tasks. If a box is just heavy, use 무겁다. Saying 들기가 어렵다 sounds a bit too formal. Avoid it when the answer is a hard "no." If you hate someone, don't say 만나기가 어렵다. That is just being confusingly polite. Just say you are busy instead. Also, do not use it with adjectives. You cannot say "being pretty is difficult" this way. It only works with action verbs. If you use it for everything, you sound hesitant. Use it when there is a real obstacle.

Many people forget the particle -가. While natives drop it, you should keep it. It helps with your sentence rhythm. Some learners use 안 instead of 어렵다. They say 사기 안 돼요, which is wrong. Another mistake is mixing it with -ㄹ 수 없다. -ㄹ 수 없다 means a total lack of ability. -기가 어렵다 means it might be possible, but unlikely. Don't use it for things that are impossible. Use it for things that are just very tough. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! Just keep practicing the flow of the sentence.

Let's look at -기 힘들다 vs -기 어렵다. -기 힘들다 is about personal, physical struggle. It feels like you are losing breath. -기가 어렵다 is more about the objective situation. It feels like a puzzle with missing pieces. Think of 공부하기가 힘들다 (Studying is exhausting). Contrast that with 공부하기가 어렵다 (The material is hard). See the difference in the feeling? One is about your energy. The other is about the external difficulty. Also, compare it to -기 쉽지 않다. That literally means "It is not easy." It is even softer than -기가 어렵다. It is the ultimate polite way to decline.