しんどい is a common Japanese expression meaning “exhausting,” “tough,” or “I'm struggling.”

It describes a situation where you feel physically tired, mentally drained, or emotionally overwhelmed. Depending on the context, it can also mean that something is difficult to deal with.

Unlike simply saying “tired,” しんどい often conveys a stronger feeling of being worn out or having a hard time.

Examples

今日、仕事が忙しすぎてしんどい。 → Work was so busy today. I'm exhausted.

毎日勉強するの、しんどいな。 → Studying every day is tough.

人間関係ってしんどいよね。 → Relationships can be emotionally exhausting, can't they?

もう歩くのしんどい。 → I can't walk anymore. I'm exhausted.

この展開、しんどすぎる…… → This storyline is too much emotionally...

Nuance

しんどい can describe both physical and emotional exhaustion. In casual conversation, people often use it to express that they are struggling with something or that something feels like too much to handle.

It is especially common in everyday conversation, among friends, and on social media.

Similar expressions:

• 疲れた — tired
• きつい — tough / physically or mentally demanding
• だるい — feeling sluggish / can't be bothered
• めんどくさい — troublesome / such a hassle

Remember: しんどい is not just about being tired. It often means that something is taking more energy—physically or emotionally—than you feel you can comfortably handle.

【エグい（えぐい）】

「エグい」 is a very common Japanese slang expression. Its meaning changes depending on the context, but it generally expresses that something is extreme, intense, shocking, or beyond what you expected.

It can be either positive or negative.

• That’s crazy / insane — something is extremely impressive or surprising.
• That’s brutal / harsh — something is severe or unpleasant.
• That’s intense — something is overwhelmingly strong.
• That’s nasty / awful — something is unpleasant or disturbing.

Examples

このラーメン、エグいくらいうまい。
→ This ramen is insanely good.

このゲーム、難易度エグい。
→ This game is insanely difficult.

今日の暑さ、エグい。
→ The heat today is brutal.

あの人の給料、エグい。
→ That person's salary is insane.
（Could mean extremely high, depending on context.)

この映像、エグい……
→ This video is brutal / disturbing...

Important nuance

Unlike words such as すごい, 「エグい」 often has a stronger feeling of “Whoa, this is way beyond normal!”

It is especially common in casual conversation and among younger people, and it is often used almost like “insane”, “crazy”, or “brutal” in English.

For example:

>この店、値段エグい。
This place is insanely expensive.

>この景色エグい！
This view is insane!

So when you hear エグい, don't automatically translate it as something negative. The context determines whether it means “amazing,” “insane,” “brutal,” or “awful.”