Schwer or schwierig?
Now that the definitions have been set, let’s look at possible uses of schwer and schwierig
sau schwierig/ total schwierig – extremely difficult
This mistake is so common even among Germans that many don’t realize they interchange these two adjectives when they actually shouldn’t. The most obvious reason is that these two words sound so much alike. Another is the meaning and the associations that people make with these two words.
For instance, in the physical sense, schwer means heavy and schwierig means difficult, and though these are two distinct definitions, many people attribute carrying something heavy as something difficult and thereby mix these two words up when expressing this intent.
For example, you will sometimes hear:
Diese Tasche ist so schwer! (‘This bag is so difficult’ instead of ‘This bag is so heavy’)
So before we go into the possible uses and differences between schwierig and schwer, the definitions of these two words should be made clear, as there is overlap in their meanings:
schwer:
- heavy – Du bist aber schwer!
- severe – Es war ein langer, schwerer Winter
- hard, difficult – Sein Leben ist schwer
- schwer geprüft sein
schwierig, (adj., adv.): difficult
Now that the definitions have been set, let’s look at possible uses of schwer and schwierig
You can interchange schwer with schwierig in:
ein schwieriger Fall/ ein schwerer Fall
ein schwieriges Thema/ ein schweres Thema.
ein schwieriges Problem/ ein schwerer Problem
Deutsch ist schwer/ Deutsch ist schwierig
Es ist schwer zu sagen/ Es ist schwierig zu sagen
Be aware that sometimes interchanging schwierig and schwer, changes the meaning completely:
Ein schwieriger Kopf – a complicated person
Ein schwerer Kopf – to have a hangover
Don’t always use logic! Some expressions use schwer even when logically schwierig would be a better fit:
schwer erziehbaren Kindern – difficult to raise children
schwer verständlich – difficult to understand
Some expressions with schwer:
schweren Herzens – heavy heart
schwerer Junge – a criminal
schwer von Begriff – to not be very bright
schweren Mutes – to be discouraged
schwere Zeiten – hard times
das Leben schwer machen – to make one’s life difficult
eine Sache schwer nehmen – to take it hard
Common expressions with schwierig:
sau schwierig/ total schwierig – extremely difficult
schwierig verlaufen – to not go well
Einfach or leicht?
Less common are mistakes made with einfach or leicht, though these two words do get mixed up at times due to similar reasons. Like schwer/ schwierig, einfach and leicht can get interchanged for phrases depicting the physical trait of light, as in not heavy. For instance, you can not say, Meine Tasche is einfach,as you are saying that your bag is easy. You need to state Meine Tasche ist leicht, which means that your bag is light.
However, you can express:
Die Aufgabe ist leicht. or
Die Aufgabe ist einfach.
They both mean the same thing: This task is easy.
In a nutshell, these are the definitions for leicht and einfach:
leicht: easy; light (not heavy)
einfach: easy, simple
Expressions with leicht:
einen leichten Gang haben – to have an easy walk
mit leichter Hand – lightly, effortlessly
eine leichte Hand mit jemandem/für etwas haben – to have a way with somebody/something
leichten Fußes – with a spring in one’s step
gewogen und zu leicht befunden – tried and found wanting
jemanden um einiges leichter machen – to relieve somebody of some of his money
Expressions with einfach:
einmal einfach – one-way ticket please
einfach falten – folded once
einfach gemein – downright mean
Das gehört einfach dazu – It comes with the territory
Einfach nur das Beste – Simply the best
Um es einfach auszudrücken – to put it simply