Cool MateDifficult vs Hard to know
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Difficult
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Hard to know
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Difficult
| Difficult | Hard to know | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //hɑːd tə nəʊ//🇺🇸 //hɑrd tə noʊ// |
| Meaning | Hard to do or understand. | Difficult to understand or determine. |
| Example | This math problem is really difficult. | It's hard to know what he really thinks about the situation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very | hard to know for sure, hard to know exactly, hard to know the truth |
| Antonyms | easy, simple, straightforward | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Difficult' is often confused with 'hard.', Some learners use 'difficult' in place of 'complicated.', Misplacing 'difficult' in a sentence, like saying 'it's difficult to me' instead of 'it's difficult for me.' | Using 'hard to know' instead of 'hard to understand' when discussing comprehension., Confusing it with 'hardly know', which means not knowing much at all., Thinking it can be used in all contexts; it's more casual. |
| Usage notes | Use 'difficult' when describing tasks, problems, or situations that require a lot of effort. Avoid in very casual conversations; instead, use synonyms like 'hard.' | Use when discussing uncertainty or complexity. It's informal; avoid in formal writing or presentations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Difficult vs Hard to know
What's the difference between Difficult and Hard to know?
Difficult: Hard to do or understand. Hard to know: Difficult to understand or determine.
Which is more common: Difficult and Hard to know?
Difficult is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Difficult: This math problem is really difficult. Hard to know: It's hard to know what he really thinks about the situation.
Can I use Difficult and Hard to know interchangeably?
Not always. Difficult and Hard to know are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.