schwerfallen
difficult · be difficult
Etwas nicht leicht können oder machen, weil es viel Kraft, Zeit oder Mühe braucht.
The German verb "schwerfallen" means to be difficult or to be hard for someone. It consists of:
- schwer: heavy, difficult
- fallen: to fall
Literally, it means “to fall heavy,” metaphorically expressing something that is hard or burdensome for a person to do or understand.
Similar words:
- ungelegen kommen (to be inconvenient)
- sich schwer tun (to have difficulty)
- Probleme haben (to have problems)
Difference:
- "schwerfallen" focuses on something being difficult for a person (typically used with dative: Das fällt mir schwer – That is hard for me).
- Others like "ungelegen kommen" emphasize inconvenience rather than pure difficulty.
- "sich schwer tun" is a more colloquial way to express having trouble with something.
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Examples
Es könnte ihm später schwerfallen, die Entscheidung zurückzunehmen.verb
It might be difficult for him later to take back the decision.
Manchmal kann es einer Person schwerfallen, eine Entscheidung zu treffen.verb
Sometimes it can be difficult for a person to make a decision.
Es könnte einigen schwerfallen, die neuen Regeln zu verstehen.verb
It could be difficult for some to understand the new rules.
Fällt es dir heute besonders schwer, früh aufzustehen?verb
Is it particularly difficult for you to get up early today?
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