j'ai eu du mal à

I had trouble

→ je

phrase Uncommon #18,171

I had trouble Used before an infinitive to say that you found something difficult or had difficulty doing it. Literally, it means “I had difficulty with.”

FR: J'ai eu du mal à ouvrir ce fichier.

EN: I had trouble opening this file.

J'ai eu du mal à me faire entendre à cause du bruit.

I had trouble making myself heard because of the noise.

J'ai eu du mal à le digérer.

I had a hard time digesting it.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

J'ai eu du mal à trouver ta maison.

I had trouble finding your house.

J'ai eu du mal à l'endormir.

I had trouble getting him to sleep.

— Amours chiennes (2000)

J'ai eu du mal à rentrer.

I had trouble getting back home.

Pour parler franchement, j'ai eu du mal à comprendre ce qu'il disait.

To be frank, I had trouble understanding what he was saying.

J'ai eu du mal à me garer.

I had a hard time parking.

Au début, j'ai eu du mal à me faire à mon nouvel environnement.

At first, I had a hard time getting used to my new surroundings.

J'ai eu du mal à le voir comme ça.

I had a hard time seeing it that way.

— Les Bonnes étoiles (2022)

J'ai eu du mal à vous retrouver.

I had trouble finding you again.

— A Taxi Driver (2017)

J'ai eu du mal à la convaincre des dangers de la cigarette.

I had a hard time convincing her of the dangers of smoking.

J'ai eu du mal à retrouver le chemin du retour jusqu'à mon hôtel hier soir.

I had trouble finding my way back to my hotel last night.

J'ai eu du mal à faire ça.

I had a hard time doing that.

Le livre était si captivant que j'ai eu du mal à le reposer.

The book was so captivating that I had a hard time putting it down.

J'ai eu du mal à mettre la petite au lit.

I had a hard time getting the little one to bed.

J'ai eu du mal à m'endormir la nuit dernière.

I had trouble falling asleep last night.

J'ai eu du mal à la convaincre.

I had a hard time convincing her.

J'ai eu du mal à trouver sa maison.

I had trouble finding his house.

J'ai eu du mal à l'avoir.

I had a hard time getting it.

— Pour une poignée de dollars (1964)

J'ai eu du mal à mettre le petit au lit.

I had a hard time getting the little one to bed.