〜がたい: 'Hard To' (Almost Impossible To)
What it means
〜がたい expresses that an action is so difficult it feels impossible — but the difficulty is almost always psychological or abstract, not a matter of physical effort. It often carries the feeling "I just can't bring myself to…" or "it's beyond me to…":
その話はちょっと信じがたい。
その はなしは ちょっと しんじがたい。
That story is hard to believe.
信じがたい = can scarcely believe it — a mental, not physical, difficulty.
ヤッタンにとって、あの日のことは忘れがたい思い出だ。
ヤッタンにとって、あの ひの ことは わすれがたい おもいでだ。
For Yattan, that day is an unforgettable memory.
忘れがたい思い出 = a memory too precious to forget.
先生の気持ちは想像しがたい。
せんせいの きもちは そうぞうしがたい。
It's hard to imagine how the teacher feels.
Because the nuance is "near-impossible," 〜がたい sounds heavier and more formal than everyday "it's hard to." You'll meet it most in writing, speeches, and thoughtful conversation.
How to form it
Take the verb's ます-stem (drop ます) and add がたい:
| Verb (dictionary) | ます-stem | + がたい |
|---|---|---|
| 信じる (believe) | 信じ | 信じがたい |
| 理解する (understand) | 理解し | 理解しがたい |
| 忘れる (forget) | 忘れ | 忘れがたい |
| 言う (say) | 言い | 言いがたい |
| 想像する (imagine) | 想像し | 想像しがたい |
The result behaves like an い-adjective, so it conjugates accordingly:
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 信じがたい | その話は信じがたい |
| Negative | 信じがたくない | 信じがたくない話 |
| Past | 信じがたかった | 結果は信じがたかった |
| Noun-modifying | 信じがたい〜 | 信じがたい事実 |
Note: 〜がたい pairs with only a limited set of verbs — typically verbs of perception, thought, or speech: 信じる, 理解する, 想像する, 言う, 忘れる, 認める (admit), 受け入れる (accept). You can't freely attach it to any verb the way you can with にくい.
More examples
正直に言って、その提案は受け入れがたい。
しょうじきに いって、その ていあんは うけいれがたい。
Honestly, that proposal is hard to accept.
モチが約束を破るなんて、ヤッタンには理解しがたかった。
モチが やくそくを やぶる なんて、ヤッタンには りかいしがたかった。
That Mochi would break a promise was hard for Yattan to understand.
Past 〜しがたかった — it conjugates like an い-adjective.
弟の前では、本当のことは言いがたい。
おとうとの まえでは、ほんとうの ことは いいがたい。
In front of my little brother, the truth is hard to say.
言いがたい = hard to bring oneself to say.
がたい vs にくい — impossible-feeling vs just hard
Both translate as "hard to," but they are not interchangeable:
- 〜がたい = the difficulty is abstract, emotional, near-impossible, and the tone is formal/written. Only certain verbs: 信じがたい, 理解しがたい, 言いがたい.
- 〜にくい = the difficulty is practical or physical, the tone is neutral/casual, and it attaches to almost any verb: 食べにくい ("hard to eat"), 歩きにくい ("hard to walk"), 読みにくい ("hard to read").
Compare:
- この道は歩きにくい。 = "This road is hard to walk on." (physical — use にくい, not 歩きがたい)
- 彼の話は信じがたい。 = "His story is hard to believe." (mental — either could appear, but がたい is stronger/more formal)
A quick test: if you could solve the difficulty with better tools, more skill, or more effort, it's にくい. If the obstacle is in the mind or heart and feels almost insurmountable, it's がたい.
Common mistakes
- Using がたい for physical difficulty. "This meat is hard to eat" is 食べにくい, never 食べがたい. がたい is for abstract/mental difficulty only.
- Attaching it to any verb. がたい only works with a small set (信じる, 理解する, 言う, 想像する, 忘れる…). When in doubt, にくい is the safe, general choice.
- Conjugating it like a verb. It's an い-adjective: past is 信じがたかった, negative 信じがたくない — not 信じがたいでした.
- Using it in casual chat. がたい is formal/written. For everyday speech, にくい (or 〜のは難しい) sounds far more natural.
Quick recap
- ます-stem + がたい = "hard to" in the sense of near-impossible.
- The difficulty is abstract / psychological, and the register is formal/written.
- Works only with certain verbs: 信じる, 理解する, 想像する, 言う, 忘れる…
- Conjugates as an い-adjective: 信じがたかった, 信じがたい思い出.
- For physical or everyday difficulty, use 〜にくい instead.
Your turn
Choose between 〜がたい and 〜にくい, and conjugate がたい correctly.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 〜がたい and 〜にくい?
〜がたい means 'almost impossible to' for abstract or emotional reasons and is formal/written (信じがたい). 〜にくい means 'hard to' for practical or physical reasons and is neutral/everyday (食べにくい). にくい attaches to almost any verb; がたい to only a few.
Can I use がたい with any verb?
No. It pairs with a limited set, mostly verbs of thought, perception, or speech: 信じる, 理解する, 想像する, 言う, 忘れる, 認める, 受け入れる. For other verbs, use にくい.
How does 〜がたい conjugate?
Like an い-adjective. Negative: 信じがたくない. Past: 信じがたかった. Modifying a noun: 信じがたい事実 ('an unbelievable fact').
Is 〜がたい used in everyday conversation?
Rarely. It is formal and literary. In casual speech people use にくい or 〜のは難しい. You'll see がたい most in writing, news, and formal talk.