challenging
挑戦的な
解説 Definition
challenging は challenge（挑戦する、難題）の現在分詞から来た形で、「挑戦的な、やりがいのある、難しい」という意味です。人を困らせるほど難しいことにも、努力して取り組む価値があることにも使われます。
Something challenging requires considerable effort, skill, or determination to complete or understand. It may be frustratingly difficult, but it can also be interesting or rewarding because it tests a person’s abilities.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
challenge に -ing を付けた形で、形容詞では「能力を試すほど難しい」を表します。a challenging problem、challenging work、find it challenging を一組で覚えましょう。difficult は単に難しいことを広く表しますが、challenging は努力や技能を要求し、ときに「大変だがやりがいがある」という肯定的な響きも伴います。
Form challenging by adding -ing to challenge. As an adjective, it describes something that puts your ability to the test: a challenging math problem, challenging work, or the challenging task of learning a language. Compare it with difficult. Difficult simply says that something is not easy, whereas challenging often suggests that effort, skill, or persistence is required and may imply that the experience is worthwhile. The verb form also exists, as in someone is challenging a decision, but the examples here use the adjective meaning demanding or hard to accomplish.
例文
This math problem is challenging.
この数学の問題は難しいです。
She enjoys challenging work.
彼女はやりがいのある仕事を楽しんでいます。
Learning a new language can be challenging at first.
新しい言語を学ぶことは、最初は大変なことがあります。
challenging の類義語・関連語
派生語
紛らわしい語
challenging の語源・成り立ち Etymology
challenging は challenge に -ing が付いた形で、challenge は古フランス語 chalenge、さらにラテン語 calumnia（言いがかり・異議）に由来します。もとは「異議を突きつける」ことで、そこから「人に試練を与える」の意味になりました。関連語に challenge, calumny があります。
Challenging is formed from challenge plus -ing. Challenge came through Old French chalenge from Latin calumnia, a word associated with accusation, false claim, or legal objection. Its early English meanings concerned accusations and formal disputes. The sense later broadened to calling someone to a contest, questioning a claim, or presenting a test of ability. From this development, challenging acquired its modern adjectival meaning: demanding enough to test a person’s skill, effort, or determination.
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