Den lille strekkoden på pakkelappen er vanskelig å se når lyset ved skranken er svakt.

This is a very common Norwegian pattern called double definiteness.

When a noun is definite and has an adjective before it, Norwegian normally uses:

• den/det/de
  • adjective + noun in definite form

So:

• strekkoden = the barcode
• den lille strekkoden = the small barcode

You usually would not say den lille strekkode in standard Norwegian.

A quick comparison:

• en liten strekkode = a small barcode
• strekkoden = the barcode
• den lille strekkoden = the small barcode

Because liten changes form depending on grammar, and in a definite singular phrase it becomes lille.

The adjective liten is irregular:

• en liten strekkode = a small barcode
• et lite lys = a small/weak light
• den lille strekkoden = the small barcode
• de små strekkodene = the small barcodes

So in this sentence, lille is used because the noun phrase is definite: den lille strekkoden.

Because Norwegian often uses the definite form when the thing is understood to be a specific, identifiable item in the situation.

Here, the sentence is talking about:

• the small barcode
• on the package label
• when the light
• by the counter

Even if English might sometimes use a more general wording, Norwegian often prefers the definite form when the speaker assumes the listener knows which thing is meant from the context.

For example:

• pakkelappen = the package label on that parcel
• skranken = the counter being referred to in that setting
• lyset = the light there by the counter

Because Norwegian forms compound nouns as one word much more often than English does.

So:

• pakke
  • lapp → pakkelapp
• strekk
  • kode → strekkode

Then the definite ending is added:

• pakkelappen = the package label
• strekkoden = the barcode

This is very important in Norwegian spelling. English speakers often want to separate these words, but in Norwegian that is usually wrong.

Because på means on here, and the barcode is physically located on the package label.

So:

• på pakkelappen = on the package label

This is a straightforward location use of på.

You can think of it as similar to:

• på bordet = on the table
• på døra = on the door
• på etiketten = on the label

Ved often means by, at, or near.

So:

• ved skranken = by the counter / at the counter

It tells you the light is located in the area of the counter, not necessarily directly on top of it.

That is why ved fits better than på here:

• på skranken would suggest on the counter
• ved skranken means by the counter

This is a very normal structure in Norwegian:

• adjective + å
  • infinitive

So:

• vanskelig å se = difficult to see
• lett å finne = easy to find
• umulig å forstå = impossible to understand

In the sentence, er vanskelig å se means is difficult to see.

The å is the infinitive marker, like to in English.

Because se and se på are not the same.

• se = see, be able to perceive visually
• se på = look at, watch

In this sentence, the point is that the barcode is hard to make out visually, so se is the natural verb.

Compare:

• Jeg kan ikke se strekkoden. = I can't see the barcode.
• Jeg ser på strekkoden. = I am looking at the barcode.

So here, vanskelig å se is better than vanskelig å se på.

Because når is used for a general condition, something that happens whenever or when in a non-specific sense.

Here the idea is:

• the barcode is hard to see when the light is dim

That is a general statement, not one specific past event.

Use da more often for a specific time in the past:

• Da lyset var svakt, var strekkoden vanskelig å se. = When the light was dim, the barcode was hard to see.

But in the original sentence, når is the right choice.

Because lyset is a neuter noun, and adjectives after er still agree with the noun.

The base adjective is svak:

• common gender singular: svak
• neuter singular: svakt
• plural/definite: svake

Since lys is neuter:

• et svakt lys = a dim/weak light
• lyset er svakt = the light is dim

So the -t is there because of neuter agreement.

Yes, but in this context it is better understood as:

• dim
• faint
• poor
• not bright

Norwegian often uses svak about light in a way that English would more naturally translate as dim or faint.

So lyset er svakt is not saying the light is physically weak in a strange way; it simply means the lighting is poor.

Because this is a subordinate clause introduced by når.

In Norwegian main clauses, the finite verb is usually in second position. But inside subordinate clauses, the word order is usually more like:

• conjunction + subject + verb

So:

• når lyset ved skranken er svakt

not:

• når er lyset ved skranken svakt

Compare:

• Main clause: Lyset ved skranken er svakt.
• Subordinate clause: når lyset ved skranken er svakt

This is a very important word-order difference in Norwegian.

Yes:

• Når lyset ved skranken er svakt, er den lille strekkoden vanskelig å se.

That version is completely natural.

The main difference is focus:

• Den lille strekkoden ... er vanskelig å se når ... starts with the barcode as the topic.
• Når lyset ved skranken er svakt, ... starts with the condition.

Notice that when the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause still follows normal Norwegian V2 word order:

• Når ..., er den lille strekkoden ...

Yes, absolutely.

That version is also natural:

• Det er vanskelig å se den lille strekkoden når lyset ved skranken er svakt.

The difference is mostly one of structure and focus:

• Den lille strekkoden ... er vanskelig å se puts the barcode in the subject position.
• Det er vanskelig å se den lille strekkoden ... uses a more impersonal it is difficult to... structure.

Both are correct. The original sentence is just slightly more centered on the barcode itself.