difficult to translate between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to translate between" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the challenges of translating concepts, phrases, or languages that may not have direct equivalents. Example: "The nuances of cultural expressions can make it difficult to translate between languages accurately."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But it is difficult to translate between modal epistemic concepts and probabilities (Cohen 1980; Douven and Williamson 2006; Huber 2009; Spohn 2009, 2012).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Aronson and Neysmith [ 28] argue that the standardized, rational way of organizing home care work is difficult to translate into practice, and results in a discrepancy between HCWs' official job descriptions and their own accounts of their work.

BMC Health Services Research

This makes him difficult to translate, says Margaret Jull Costa, his much-praised English translator.

The Guardian - Books

The expert panel discussed each element rated as difficult to translate, difficult to reconcile, or for which the translations differed substantially.

BMC Health Services Research

22 23 Hence, the US studies on the association between PHC and hospital use might be difficult to translate into European or Norwegian contexts, where GPs are the only primary care physicians.

BMJ Open

While CPUE is useful for comparing densities within and between regions in a single study, measurements are difficult to translate into a density of crab per area and results may vary with trap type and deployment methods used.

F1000Research

Mr. Audiard said he originally wanted to call the movie "Gotta Serve Somebody," after Bob Dylan's song about having to choose between God and the Devil, "but it's too difficult to translate into French".

The New York Times

Certain writers are exceptionally difficult to translate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The word is difficult to translate.

The New York Times

He is certainly difficult to translate.

The Guardian - Books

Is he exceptionally difficult to translate?

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to translate between", ensure the context clearly defines what two or more concepts, languages, or systems are being compared. This clarifies the specific challenge of translation.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "difficult to translate between" solely refers to linguistic translation. It can also apply to translating concepts, methodologies, or data across different fields or contexts. Be explicit about the scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to translate between" functions as an adjective phrase describing the inherent challenges in establishing a direct correspondence or conversion between two or more distinct entities, concepts or languages. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to translate between" effectively conveys the inherent challenges of transferring meaning or concepts across different contexts, languages, or systems. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its usage is relatively rare. The expression appears in a range of sources, including scientific publications and news outlets, highlighting its applicability in various analytical and explanatory contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: specify what exactly is being translated and between which entities or concepts the difficulty arises. While direct synonyms may not fully capture its nuance, related phrases such as "hard to correlate across" or "challenging to reconcile between" can serve as alternatives depending on the intended emphasis. This phrase can refer not only to language but also to concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to correlate across

Focuses on the difficulty of finding a direct relationship or correspondence between two things.

difficult to map between

Emphasizes the struggle to establish a clear correspondence or relationship.

challenging to reconcile between

Highlights the difficulty in making different things compatible or consistent.

not easily comparable between

Highlights the lack of straightforward comparison between two or more items.

hard to draw parallels between

Focuses on the difficulty of noticing similar aspects or features.

tough to bridge across

Emphasizes the difficulty in creating a connection or link between two distinct entities or concepts.

complicated to transfer between

Focuses on the complexity of moving or applying something from one situation to another.

tricky to establish correspondence between

Highlights the complicated method for establishing an equivalence between different things.

problematic to equate across

Stresses the issues in establishing an equivalence between different items or categories.

demanding to convert between

Stresses the high effort needed to change something from one form or system to another.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to translate between" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to translate between" to describe challenges in conveying meaning from one language or context to another. For example, "The nuances of cultural expressions can make it "difficult to translate between" languages accurately."

What makes a concept "difficult to translate between" different languages?

Cultural nuances, idiomatic expressions, and the lack of direct equivalents in the target language can make a concept "difficult to translate" accurately.

What are some alternatives to "difficult to translate between"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hard to correlate across", "challenging to reconcile between", or "tough to bridge across" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always about language when something is "difficult to translate between"?

No, "difficult to translate between" can also refer to the challenges of applying concepts or findings from one field to another, or converting data between different systems.