大変だった

was difficult

→ 大変だ
phrase Uncommon #12,192
was difficult 大変 can describe something as difficult, tough, or demanding. だった makes it past tense.
JA: 引っ越しの準備は大変だった。
EN: Preparing for the move was difficult.

その仕事をやり遂げるのは大変だった。

It was difficult to complete that job.

来たいという奴が多くて大変だったよ

There were so many people who wanted to come that it was a real hassle.

— フィールド・オブ・ドリームス (1989)

大変だったよ

It was tough.

— 君の名は。 (2016)

今夜は大変だったがもう忘れろ

Tonight was rough, but forget about it now.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

試験中はなかなか大変だった。

The exam was pretty tough.

遠征は大変だっただろう

The expedition must have been tough.

— レッドクリフ Part I (2008)

めちゃくちゃ大変だったよ。

It was incredibly tough.

空港に行くまでが大変だったんだ。

It was a hassle getting to the airport.

当時は旅行が今よりもずっと大変だった。

Traveling was much more difficult back then than it is now.

大変だった。

It was tough.

— 教皇選挙 (2024)

大変だったわねぇ

That must’ve been tough.

— 魔女の宅急便 (1989)

それは大変だったな

That must have been tough.

— ザ・マン・フロム・アース (2007)

タコの衣装は大変だったのよ

The octopus costume was a lot of work.

— ラブ・アクチュアリー (2003)

あの店、すごく広くて目的の品を探すのが大変だった。

That store was so big that it was difficult to find what I was looking for.

私の家を見つけるの、大変だった?

Was it hard to find my house?

大変だったろ

That must have been tough.

— 万引き家族 (2018)

君こそ雨の中大変だったね

You must have had a hard time in the rain.

— 魔女の宅急便 (1989)

その質問に答えるのは、大変だった。

It was difficult to answer that question.