Japanese by Example
Learning through examples in manga

Difficult to say 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.

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

Key Points

  1. ()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: ()() (stem) + づらい()いづらい “difficult to say”
    • The difficulty here is psychological/emotional (not physical inability)
  2. Contraction: ()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)()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)()わないから is short for 猛男(たけお)()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