Translation guide
Describes someone who is difficult to satisfy, often having high or specific standards. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed through adjectives, verbs, or set phrases that convey pickiness or fussiness.
Describing a person who is generally hard to satisfy, often about many things.
An i-adjective meaning hard to please, moody, or difficult to deal with. Often used for someone who is particular and not easily satisfied.
彼は気難しい人だ。
He is a hard-to-please person.
あの客は気難しくて、いつも文句を言う。
That customer is hard to please and always complains.
Literally 'noisy,' but often used to mean fussy, picky, or hard to please, especially about details.
彼女は食べ物にうるさい。
She is picky about food.
Literally 'has many orders/requests,' meaning demanding or hard to please.
あの人は注文が多くて大変だ。
That person is so demanding; it's tough.
Specifically means picky about tastes or preferences.
彼は服の好みがうるさい。
He is picky about clothes.
When the pickiness is about a particular area like food, music, etc.
Pattern: [noun] + にうるさい. Means 'picky about [noun].' Very common and natural.
彼はコーヒーにうるさい。
He is picky about coffee.
Literally 'has a fat tongue,' meaning has a refined palate; hard to please with food.
彼女は舌が肥えているから、安いワインは飲まない。
She has a refined palate, so she doesn't drink cheap wine.
Similar to above but for visual arts or aesthetics; has a discerning eye.
彼は目が肥えているから、いい絵を選ぶ。
He has a discerning eye, so he chooses good paintings.
When someone is so demanding that satisfaction seems impossible.
Literally 'cannot be satisfied.' A direct way to say someone is impossible to please.
彼を満足させるのは難しい。
It's hard to satisfy him.
Means 'no matter what, (they) don't like it.' Emphasizes the impossibility of pleasing.
何をしても彼女はどうしても気に入らないようだ。
No matter what I do, she never seems to be pleased.
The phrase 'hard to please' does not have a single direct equivalent. Using 喜ばせるのが難しい (yorokobaseru no ga muzukashii) is possible but less natural than the options above.
気難しい (kimuzukashii) describes a personality trait of being hard to please or moody. うるさい (urusai) is more about being fussy or picky about specific things, and can sound more casual or negative.