tough
gb/tˈʌf/ us/tˈʌf/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 2300
nehéz, kemény, szívós, rágós, strapabíró, lelkileg erős, bírja a gyűrődést
A2
1
Muundo wa matumizi:
a tough [task/problem/decision]
Climbing that mountain was a tough challenge.
Megmászni azt a hegyet kemény kihívás volt.
It was a tough decision to leave my hometown.
Nehéz döntés volt elhagyni a szülővárosomat.
The exam was tougher than I expected.
She faced a tough situation at work.
This is a tough problem to solve.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
This is a tough job.
Ez nehéz munka.
It is a tough test.
Ez egy nehéz teszt.
He has a tough choice.
That was a tough game.
She had a tough day.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' with 'rough' when describing difficulty. 'Rough' often refers to physical texture or harsh conditions, while 'tough' here means difficult.
Maana
Hard to do or manage
Miunganiko ya maneno
tough decision
|tough choice
|tough problem
|tough situation
Visawe
difficult (More general; lacks the connotation of personal endurance often implied by 'tough'.)
Vinyume
easy (Indicates something that requires little effort, the opposite of tough in this sense.)
Mada
daily life
|work
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Needing a lot of work or strength to do.
Requiring a lot of effort, skill, or determination to do or handle.
A2
2
Muundo wa matumizi:
a tough [person/athlete/soldier]
The boxer is known for being incredibly tough.
A bokszoló köztudottan hihetetlenül szívós.
She’s a tough competitor who never gives up.
Szívós versenyző, aki soha nem adja fel.
These boots are tough enough for hiking in rocky terrain.
He proved how tough he was during military training.
Our team needs some tough players.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
He is a tough man.
Szívós ember.
She is a tough runner.
Szívós futó.
This bag is tough.
The dog is tough and strong.
My shoes are tough for long walks.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may overuse 'tough' for all strong people; in some contexts 'strong' may be more natural if endurance is not implied.
Maana
Physically strong and resilient
Miunganiko ya maneno
tough guy
|tough soldier
|tough competitor
Visawe
strong (General term for physical power; 'tough' also implies endurance and resilience.)
Vinyume
weak (Lacking physical strength or endurance.)
Mada
people
|sports
|health
|body
Ufafanuzi
Strong and able to keep going in hard situations.
Physically strong and able to withstand hardship, pain, or damage.
A2
3
Muundo wa matumizi:
tough [meat/material]
The steak was overcooked and very tough.
A steak túlsült, és nagyon rágós volt.
This leather is tough and will last for years.
Ez a bőr strapabíró, és évekig kitart.
The bread had gone stale and was tough to eat.
Her jacket is made from a tough fabric.
These ropes are made from a tough synthetic fiber.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The meat is tough.
A hús rágós.
My shoes are made from tough leather.
A cipőm strapabíró bőrből készült.
This bread is tough now.
The steak is too tough to eat.
The rope is tough and strong.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' here with 'hard' meaning difficult; here it refers to physical texture.
Maana
Hard to chew or cut
Miunganiko ya maneno
tough meat
|tough steak
|tough fabric
Visawe
chewy (Emphasizes the need for prolonged chewing; often less negative than 'tough'.)
Vinyume
tender (Soft and easy to cut or chew.)
Mada
food
|materials
|food_drink
|daily_life
Ufafanuzi
Hard and not easy to chew or cut.
Difficult to cut, chew, or break due to hardness or firmness.
B1
INFORMAL
4
Muundo wa matumizi:
a tough [person/kid/woman]
She’s been through a lot, but she’s tough.
Sok mindenen ment keresztül, de lelkileg erős.
You have to be tough to work in that industry.
Lelkileg erősnek kell lenni ahhoz, hogy az ember abban az iparágban dolgozzon.
He’s a tough negotiator who doesn’t back down easily.
The coach wants players who are mentally tough.
Growing up in poverty made her tough.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
She is a tough woman.
Lelkileg erős nő.
He is a tough boy.
Lelkileg erős fiú.
My dad is a tough man.
You need to be tough for this job.
She stayed tough after the bad news.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse emotional toughness with rudeness; being 'tough' here means strong, not unfriendly.
Maana
Emotionally strong and resilient
Miunganiko ya maneno
tough kid
|tough survivor
|tough negotiator
Visawe
resilient ('Resilient' focuses on recovery from setbacks; 'tough' suggests enduring without breaking.)
Vinyume
sensitive (Easily affected emotionally, unlike someone described as 'tough'.)
Mada
emotions
|people
|health
Ufafanuzi
Able to stay strong when bad things happen.
Able to deal with stress, pain, or difficult situations without becoming upset or giving up.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
tough
IPA
GB/tˈʌf/
US/tˈʌf/
Silabi na mkazo
tough (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (tough)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: tough
- Comparative: tougher
- Superlative: toughest
Familia ya neno
Forms
tougher
adjective
toughest
adjective
Core family
toughness
noun B2
toughen
verb
Related words
toughie
noun
Semi
a tough break
1/ə tˈʌf bɹˈeɪk/
idiom
informal
An unlucky setback or misfortune
Something bad that happens that makes life harder for someone.
Mifano
- It’s a tough break that you missed the train by just one minute.
- Getting injured before the final game was a real tough break.
a tough call
1/ə tˈʌf kˈɔl/
fixed phrase
A hard decision between options
A choice that is hard to make because both options are difficult or good in different ways.
Mifano
- Choosing between the two job offers was a tough call.
- It’s a tough call, but I think we should wait.
as tough as nails
1/ˈæz tˈʌf ˈæz nˈeɪlz/
idiom
informal
Very strong and hardy person
Very strong and able to keep going without showing weakness or fear.
Mifano
- Don’t be fooled by her size—she’s as tough as nails.
- He’s as tough as nails after years in the army.
hang tough
1/hˈæŋ tˈʌf/
idiom
informal
Stay determined under pressure
To keep going and not give up when things are hard.
Mifano
- Even when the team was losing badly, they managed to hang tough until the end.
- You just have to hang tough through these difficult times.