ลำบาก

Explanation

ลำบาก centers on the idea that something is not easy or comfortable because an obstacle, burden, or hardship is involved. It is common in both everyday conversation and writing. With a person or living situation, it can mean that life is hard or that someone is going through difficulties. Placed after an action verb, it indicates that the action is hard to perform: เดินลำบาก means “have difficulty walking,” while พูดลำบาก means “be difficult to say or talk about.” This is an extension of the same core meaning rather than a separate sense. In the phrase ด้วยความลำบาก, it functions adverbially and means “with difficulty.” It is also commonly used when showing concern about causing someone extra work or inconvenience.

Usage

Used when discussing financial hardship, physical difficulty such as trouble walking or breathing, inconvenient travel or facilities, or something that is hard to say because of the circumstances. It is also common when expressing concern that a request may inconvenience or burden someone.

Caution

Do not use ลำบาก for every instance of “difficult.” Use ยาก when the main point is the difficulty level of a question, skill, or task itself. Use ลำบาก when emphasizing the hardship, effort, inconvenience, or burden experienced in the situation.

1 hard synonyms

• ยาก

  yâak difficult

  ยาก focuses mainly on something being difficult to understand, accomplish, or achieve. ลำบาก emphasizes hardship, effort, inconvenience, or a burden experienced by someone.

• ไม่สะดวก

  ไม่สะดวก means “inconvenient” or “not convenient” and is often used for schedules, arrangements, or facilities. ลำบาก can express a stronger sense of actual effort, hardship, or personal burden.