Use 困る to describe a situation that leaves someone at a loss or causes difficulty.

The idea

困る is an intransitive godan verb. Mark a cause with に, as in 騒音に困る. 困っている describes an ongoing difficulty; 困った can describe a difficulty that arose.

Patterns to compare
DictionaryPolitePolite pastて formNegative
困る困ります困りました困って困らない

Examples

  • 電車でんしゃが止とまって、困こまりました。The train stopped, and I was in trouble.
  • 道みちがわからなくて、困こまっています。I am having trouble because I do not know the way.
  • 私わたしは騒音そうおんに困こまっています。I am troubled by the noise.
  • お金かねがなくて、困こまりました。I had no money and was in difficulty.
  • 困こまったときは、先生せんせいに相談そうだんします。When I am in difficulty, I consult my teacher.
  • 雨あめが降ふると、困こまります。If it rains, that will cause a problem.

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Watch out

困る does not take the problem as a direct object with を. Its て form is 困って, not 困りて; it describes being troubled, not deliberately troubling someone.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the polite non-past form.

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    困ります

    困ります is the polite non-past form: the final る changes to り before ます.

  2. Write the て form.

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    困って

    困って is the て form of this godan verb; final る changes to って.

  3. Choose the particle for the cause of the difficulty.

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    に

    に marks the noise as the cause of the difficulty; を would not fit this intransitive use.

Use it today

Describe a problem with に困っています, then change 困る to the polite past.