前途多難(ぜんとたなん)

ぜんとたなん
noun; na-adjective
many difficulties ahead
1. having many difficulties ahead; a rough road ahead
Describes a situation where many obstacles and troubles are expected in the future.
新(あたら)しいプロジェクトは前途多難(ぜんとたなん)だ。
The new project has a rough road ahead.
前途多難(ぜんとたなん)な状況(じょうきょう)だが、諦(あきら)めない。
It's a difficult situation ahead, but I won't give up.
経済(けいざい)状況(じょうきょう)を見(み)ると、前途多難(ぜんとたなん)と言(い)わざるを得(え)ない。
Looking at the economic situation, one can only say that there are many difficulties ahead.

YOJIJUKUGO (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)): This is a four-character compound idiom.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

  • 前(ぜん) - before, ahead
  • 途(と) - road, way
  • 多(た) - many
  • 難(なん) - difficulty, hardship

ANTONYM:

  • 前途洋洋(ぜんとようよう) (bright future ahead)

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 多事多難(たじたなん) (full of troubles and difficulties)
  • 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう) (stormy, eventful life)
  • 難航(なんこう)する (to make slow progress due to difficulties)

USAGE PATTERN:

  • 前途多難(ぜんとたなん)な〜 (a ~ with difficulties ahead)
  • 前途多難(ぜんとたなん)を予想(よそう)する (to anticipate difficulties ahead)

Related Words

Antonym: 前途洋洋(ぜんとようよう) (bright future)
Related: 多事多難(たじたなん) (full of troubles)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:18 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07118_zentotanan