knifflig
tricky
Difficult to deal with and requiring thought, skill, or a good solution.
EXAMPLE
Die knifflige Aufgabe konnte nur mit viel Geduld gelöst werden.
The tricky task could only be solved with a great deal of patience.
knifflig
tricky
knifflig – kniffliger – am kniffligsten
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry knifflig, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | knifflig |
|---|---|
| comparative | kniffliger |
| superlative | am kniffligsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to knifflig.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to knifflig.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to knifflig.
Usage tips
Word family
The word „knifflig“ contains „Kniff“ (trick): A „Kniff“ is a clever trick or a special technique. This connection can help you remember the word: Something „knifflig“ (tricky) often requires a good idea.
EXAMPLE
Mit einem kleinen Trick konnte ich das knifflige Rätsel lösen.
With a little trick, I was able to solve the tricky puzzle.
Typical construction
You can use „das Knifflige an …“ (the tricky thing about …) to explain which part of something causes difficulties. „An“ takes the dative here; this is often followed by „ist, dass …“ (is that …).
EXAMPLE
Das Knifflige an diesem Spiel ist, dass man mehrere Regeln gleichzeitig beachten muss.
The tricky thing about this game is that you have to follow several rules at the same time.
Typical collocations
Common collocations include „eine knifflige Aufgabe“ (a tricky task), „eine knifflige Frage“ (a tricky question), and „ein kniffliges Problem“ (a tricky problem). The verb „lösen“ (to solve) is especially common with tasks and problems, while „beantworten“ (to answer) is used with questions.
EXAMPLE
Im Vorstellungsgespräch musste sie eine knifflige Frage beantworten.
During the job interview, she had to answer a tricky question.
In real life
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