Japanese with Manga

Difficult to say with 〜づらい

Grammar Explanation: Difficult to do with 〜づらい

Manga panel from 俺物語!! showing example of Difficult to say with 〜づらい.
俺物語!! » Volume 1 » Page 141

Takeo feels Rinko is keeping something from him, but can’t figure out what. Makoto and Ai meet with Rinko to confront her about it.

愛(あい):
「言(い)って！ 猛男(たけお)に言(い)づらいんでしょ？　猛男(たけお)に言(い)わないから！」
“Tell me! It's difficult to say to Takeo, right? But I won't tell Takeo!”
Literal: “Say it! It's difficult to say to Takeo, right? I won't say it to Takeo!”
誠(まこと):
「絶対(ぜったい)言(い)う…」
“She'll definitely tell him...”

Key Points

1言(い)いづらい = “difficult to say”
  • 〜づらい attaches to the verb stem to express difficulty: Verb stem + づらい “difficult to [verb]”.
  • Pattern: 言(い)う to 言(い)い (stem) + づらい becomes 言(い)いづらい “difficult to say”.
  • The difficulty here is psychological/emotional (not physical inability).
2Contraction: 言(い)いづらいんでしょ
  • んでしょ is casual speech for のでしょう (seeking confirmation: “right?”, “isn’t it?”)
  • Full form would be: 猛男(たけお)に言(い)いづらいのでしょう？ “It’s difficult to say to Takeo, right?”
  • This makes Ai’s question more direct and empathetic.
3から at the end = reassurance
  • 猛男(たけお)に言(い)わないから is short for 猛男(たけお)に言(い)わないからね/から大丈夫(だいじょうぶ) “I won’t tell Takeo, so (it’s okay).”
  • The から at sentence-end provides a reason/reassurance, with the conclusion left implied.
  • This pattern shows Ai trying to create a safe space for Rinko to open up.

Vocabulary

(To say)

言(い)う means to say or tell. It can also mean to call something by a particular name.

(Absolute)

絶対(ぜったい) means absolute or unconditional. As an adverb, it means definitely or under no circumstances, depending on the sentence.

See Also

俺物語!! © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.