前 途 多 難(ぜんとたなん)

ぜんとたなん

noun, na-adjective

many difficulties ahead

idiom descriptive

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.

Writing

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

Similar words

前途洋洋(ぜんとようよう) (bright future ahead)
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)

Common patterns

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)

Antonym: 前途有望(ぜんとゆうぼう) (having a promising future)

Compare: 波乱万丈(はらんばんじょう) (stormy, eventful life)

Compare: 難航(なんこう)する (to make slow progress due…)

general

Added 2026.1.19 8:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07000/07118_zentotanan