Using 〜にくい & 〜やすい in Japanese

Have you ever struggled to say that something is easy or difficult to do in Japanese? Whether you want to describe how simple a task is or express frustration over something challenging, 〜にくい (nikui) and 〜やすい (yasui) are essential grammar patterns that make your Japanese sound more natural. These forms allow you to effortlessly describe ease and difficulty, making your sentences more fluid and expressive.

In Japanese, we often use these structures to talk about actions and experiences:

• このペンは書きやすいです。
  Kono pen wa kaki yasui desu.
  → This pen is easy to write with.
• この漢字は覚えにくいです。
  Kono kanji wa oboe nikui desu.
  → This kanji is difficult to remember.

By mastering 〜にくい and 〜やすい, you’ll improve your Japanese fluency and express yourself more accurately in conversations. In this guide, we’ll break down meanings, usage, conjugation rules, grammar tips, and common mistakes, ensuring you learn these patterns with confidence.

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Common Expressions Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい

Now that we understand the basics, let’s look at some commonly used expressions with 〜にくい and 〜やすい. These phrases frequently appear in daily conversations and written Japanese, so mastering them will help you sound more natural.

Common Expressions with 〜やすい (Easy to Do)

1. 覚えやすい名前 (Oboe yasui namae) – An easy-to-remember name
2. 壊れやすいガラス (Koware yasui garasu) – Fragile (easy-to-break) glass
3. 話しやすい先生 (Hanashi yasui sensei) – A teacher who is easy to talk to
4. 間違えやすい単語 (Machigae yasui tango) – A word that is easy to mispronounce
5. 使いやすいアプリ (Tsukai yasui apuri) – A user-friendly (easy-to-use) app

Common Expressions with 〜にくい (Difficult to Do)

1. 覚えにくい単語 (Oboe nikui tango) – A difficult-to-remember word
2. 聞きにくい質問 (Kiki nikui shitsumon) – A difficult (awkward) question to ask
3. 理解しにくい説明 (Rikai nikui setsumei) – A hard-to-understand explanation
4. 歩きにくい靴 (Aruki nikui kutsu) – Uncomfortable (difficult-to-walk-in) shoes
5. 見にくい画面 (Mi nikui gamen) – A screen that is hard to see

These phrases demonstrate how 〜やすい makes things sound easy, while 〜にくい conveys difficulty. In the next section, we’ll explore when to use these grammar patterns in different situations.

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Usage: When to Use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Sentences

Now that we’ve seen some common expressions, let’s dive into when and how to use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in different situations. These grammar patterns help describe the ease or difficulty of performing an action, and they are frequently used in everyday Japanese.

1. Describing How Easy or Difficult an Action Is

One of the most common uses of 〜にくい and 〜やすい is to describe how easy or difficult it is to perform an action. This structure is often used with verbs.

✅ やすい Example:

• この本は読（よ）みやすいです。
  Kono hon wa yomi yasui desu.
  → This book is easy to read.

❌ にくい Example:

• この漢字は書（か）きにくいです。
  Kono kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
  → This kanji is difficult to write.

2. Talking About Physical Ease or Difficulty

These patterns can also be used to describe how physically easy or hard something is to handle or use.

✅ やすい Example:

• このパソコンは持（も）ちやすいです。
  Kono pasokon wa mochi yasui desu.
  → This laptop is easy to carry.

❌ にくい Example:

• このドアは開（あ）けにくいです。
  Kono doa wa ake nikui desu.
  → This door is hard to open.

3. Expressing Emotional or Psychological Difficulty

Sometimes, 〜にくい is used for things that are emotionally difficult to do, such as asking a sensitive question or speaking in an unfamiliar language. 〜やすい, on the other hand, can describe situations that feel comfortable or natural.

✅ やすい Example:

• 彼（かれ）は話（はな）しやすい人（ひと）です。
  Kare wa hanashi yasui hito desu.
  → He is an easy person to talk to.

❌ にくい Example:

• この話題（わだい）は言（い）いにくいです。
  Kono wadai wa ii nikui desu.
  → This topic is hard to talk about.

4. Referring to Visibility or Legibility

Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい can describe how easy or hard something is to see, read, or understand.

✅ やすい Example:

• このフォントは読（よ）みやすいです。
  Kono fonto wa yomi yasui desu.
  → This font is easy to read.

❌ にくい Example:

• この地図（ちず）は見（み）にくいです。
  Kono chizu wa mi nikui desu.
  → This map is hard to see.

These are some of the most common situations where 〜にくい and 〜やすい are used in Japanese. In the next section, we’ll break down the conjugation rules so you can start forming your own sentences correctly.

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Conjugation: How to Attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい to Different Words

Now that we’ve covered the usage, let’s learn how to correctly attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい to different types of words. These patterns are typically used with verbs, but they can also modify nouns and adjectives in some cases.

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1. Verbs: How to Attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい

〜にくい and 〜やすい attach to the ます-stem (also known as the verb stem).

How to find the verb stem:

1. Take the dictionary form of a verb (e.g., 食べる, 飲む, 書く).
2. Remove the ます from the polite ます-form (e.g., 食べます → 食べ, 飲みます → 飲み).
3. Attach 〜にくい or 〜やすい to the remaining stem.

Conjugation Examples for Different Verb Types:

Verb Type	Dictionary Form	ます-Form	Stem	+ にくい (Hard to…)	+ やすい (Easy to…)
Ichidan (る-verbs)	食べる (taberu)	食べます (tabemasu)	食べ (tabe)	食べにくい (tabe nikui) → Hard to eat	食べやすい (tabe yasui) → Easy to eat
Godan (う-verbs)	飲む (nomu)	飲みます (nomimasu)	飲み (nomi)	飲みにくい (nomi nikui) → Hard to drink	飲みやすい (nomi yasui) → Easy to drink
Godan (う-verbs)	書く (kaku)	書きます (kakimasu)	書き (kaki)	書きにくい (kaki nikui) → Hard to write	書きやすい (kaki yasui) → Easy to write
Irregular Verbs	する (suru)	します (shimasu)	し (shi)	しにくい (shi nikui) → Hard to do	しやすい (shi yasui) → Easy to do
Irregular Verbs	来る (kuru)	来ます (kimasu)	来 (ki)	来にくい (ki nikui) → Hard to come	来やすい (ki yasui) → Easy to come

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2. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used with Adjectives?

No, 〜にくい and 〜やすい cannot attach to adjectives directly. However, to describe the ease or difficulty of an adjective, you can use 〜そう (sou) or 〜すぎる (sugiru) instead.

✅ Alternative Example with Adjective:

• 暑（あつ）すぎて眠（ねむ）りにくいです。
  Atsu sugite nemuri nikui desu.
  → It’s too hot, so it’s hard to sleep.

If you want to say something looks easy or difficult, use 〜そう (sou) instead.

✅ Example:

• この問題（もんだい）は難（むずか）しそうです。
  Kono mondai wa muzukashi sou desu.
  → This question looks difficult.

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3. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used with Nouns?

Technically, 〜にくい and 〜やすい do not attach directly to nouns. However, you can use them indirectly by turning the noun into a verb using する (suru).

✅ Example:

• このサイトは利用（りよう）しやすいです。
  Kono saito wa riyou shi yasui desu.
  → This website is easy to use.

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4. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used in Negative Sentences?

Yes, they can! Simply conjugate the 〜にくい and 〜やすい as い-adjectives:

Tense	Example with 〜やすい (Easy to Do)	Example with 〜にくい (Hard to Do)
Present Positive	食べやすい (tabe yasui) → Easy to eat	食べにくい (tabe nikui) → Hard to eat
Present Negative	食べやすくない (tabe yasuku nai) → Not easy to eat	食べにくくない (tabe nikuku nai) → Not hard to eat
Past Positive	食べやすかった (tabe yasukatta) → Was easy to eat	食べにくかった (tabe nikukatta) → Was hard to eat
Past Negative	食べやすくなかった (tabe yasuku nakatta) → Was not easy to eat	食べにくくなかった (tabe nikuku nakatta) → Was not hard to eat

By following these conjugation rules, you can confidently use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in various sentence structures.

In the next section, we’ll explore the grammar rules in more detail to ensure you fully grasp these concepts.

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Grammar Rules: Understanding 〜にくい and 〜やすい

Now that we’ve covered usage and conjugation, let’s take a deeper look at the grammar rules behind 〜にくい and 〜やすい. Understanding these rules will help you form correct and natural sentences in Japanese.

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1. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Always Modify Verbs

As mentioned earlier, 〜にくい and 〜やすい attach to the verb stem. They cannot be directly attached to adjectives or nouns.

✅ Correct Usage (with Verbs):

• 漢字（かんじ）は書（か）きにくいです。
  Kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
  → Kanji is hard to write.

❌ Incorrect Usage (with Adjectives/Nouns):

• この部屋（へや）は寒（さむ）にくいです。 (Incorrect!)
• この仕事（しごと）はやすいです。 (Incorrect!)

✅ Correct Alternative:

• この部屋（へや）は寒（さむ）すぎて、寝（ね）にくいです。
  Kono heya wa samu sugite, ne nikui desu.
  → This room is too cold, so it’s hard to sleep.
• この仕事（しごと）は簡単（かんたん）でやりやすいです。
  Kono shigoto wa kantan de yari yasui desu.
  → This job is simple, so it’s easy to do.

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2. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Are Treated as い-Adjectives

Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい act like regular い-adjectives. This means they can be conjugated just like adjectives.

✅ Example Conjugation with 〜やすい (Easy to Do)

Tense	Sentence Example	Translation
Present Positive	この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすいです。	These shoes are easy to wear.
Present Negative	この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすくないです。	These shoes are not easy to wear.
Past Positive	この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすかったです。	These shoes were easy to wear.
Past Negative	この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすくなかったです。	These shoes were not easy to wear.

✅ Example Conjugation with 〜にくい (Hard to Do)

Tense	Sentence Example	Translation
Present Positive	このペンは書（か）きにくいです。	This pen is hard to write with.
Present Negative	このペンは書（か）きにくくないです。	This pen is not hard to write with.
Past Positive	このペンは書（か）きにくかったです。	This pen was hard to write with.
Past Negative	このペンは書（か）きにくくなかったです。	This pen was not hard to write with.

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3. 〜にくい Does NOT Mean “Impossible”

〜にくい does not mean something is completely impossible to do; it just means that it’s difficult or inconvenient. If you want to express something that is completely impossible, use 〜できない (dekinai) instead.

✅ Example:

• この字（じ）は読（よ）みにくいです。
  Kono ji wa yomi nikui desu.
  → This character is hard to read. (But still possible!)

❌ Incorrect Usage:

• この字（じ）は読（よ）めにくいです。 (Wrong! “Yomeru” means “can read”, so “yome nikui” is incorrect!)

✅ Alternative for “Impossible”:

• この字（じ）は読（よ）めません。
  Kono ji wa yomemasen.
  → I cannot read this character. (Completely impossible!)

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4. 〜にくい vs. 〜づらい: What’s the Difference?

Another similar structure in Japanese is 〜づらい (zurai), which also means “hard to do.” While 〜にくい is more about physical difficulty, 〜づらい is used more for psychological or emotional difficulty.

✅ Example Using 〜にくい (Physical Difficulty):

• この薬（くすり）は飲（の）みにくいです。
  Kono kusuri wa nomi nikui desu.
  → This medicine is hard to swallow. (Because of taste, texture, etc.)

✅ Example Using 〜づらい (Emotional Difficulty):

• 彼（かれ）に本当（ほんとう）のことを言（い）いづらいです。
  Kare ni hontou no koto o ii zurai desu.
  → It’s hard to tell him the truth. (Because of emotions or sensitivity)

💡 Rule of Thumb:

• 〜にくい = Physically difficult, inconvenient
• 〜づらい = Emotionally difficult, uncomfortable

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5. 〜やすい Is NOT the Same as 〜がち or 〜やすい (Cheap/Easy)

Be careful not to confuse やすい (yasui = easy to do) with other やすい words in Japanese.

✅ Example Using 〜やすい (Easy to Do):

• このボールペンは書（か）きやすいです。
  Kono boorupen wa kaki yasui desu.
  → This ballpoint pen is easy to write with.

❌ Confusing Similar Word:

• このシャツは安（やす）いです。
  Kono shatsu wa yasui desu.
  → This shirt is cheap. (Completely different meaning!)

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6. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used in Formal Writing?

Yes! Both forms can be used in formal writing, but they are more common in spoken Japanese or casual writing. In business or academic writing, you might see more neutral alternatives like 難（むずか）しい (muzukashii, difficult) or 簡単（かんたん） (kantan, easy).

✅ Example in a Formal Setting:

• この手順（てじゅん）は理解（りかい）しやすいです。
  Kono tejun wa rikai shi yasui desu.
  → This procedure is easy to understand.

These grammar rules will help you use 〜にくい and 〜やすい correctly in different contexts.

In the next section, we’ll discuss tricky points and exceptions that you need to keep in mind when using these patterns.

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Things to Keep in Mind: Tricky Points, Exceptions, and Important Details

Now that you understand the grammar rules for 〜にくい and 〜やすい, let’s look at some tricky points, exceptions, and details that often confuse learners. Paying attention to these will help you use these patterns correctly and sound more natural in Japanese.

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1. Some Verbs Change Meaning with 〜にくい and 〜やすい

In some cases, attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい slightly changes the meaning of the original verb. Instead of simply indicating difficulty or ease, the phrase might imply something unexpected.

✅ Example: 聞（き）く (to listen / to ask)

• 聞（き）きにくい → Hard to ask (someone something)
  • 先生（せんせい）に質問（しつもん）を聞（き）きにくいです。
    Sensei ni shitsumon o kiki nikui desu.
    → It’s hard to ask the teacher a question. (Because of nervousness, shyness, etc.)
• 聞（き）きやすい → Easy to listen to / easy to hear
  • この先生（せんせい）は話（はな）し方（かた）が聞（き）きやすいです。
    Kono sensei wa hanashikata ga kiki yasui desu.
    → This teacher’s way of speaking is easy to listen to.

💡 Notice the difference?

• 聞きにくい relates to asking questions (psychological difficulty).
• 聞きやすい relates to listening (ease of hearing).

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2. Some Verbs Use 〜づらい Instead of 〜にくい

As mentioned earlier, 〜づらい is often used instead of 〜にくい for psychological or emotional difficulty. While 〜にくい is grammatically correct in most cases, native speakers often prefer 〜づらい for things related to feelings or social interactions.

✅ More Natural Sentences Using 〜づらい:

• 上司（じょうし）に意見（いけん）を言（い）いづらいです。
  Joushi ni iken o ii zurai desu.
  → It’s hard to express my opinion to my boss. (Social/emotional difficulty)
• この話（はなし）はしづらいです。
  Kono hanashi wa shi zurai desu.
  → This topic is hard to talk about. (Sensitive topic)

💡 When to Use Which?

• 〜にくい → Physical difficulty (writing, reading, eating, etc.)
• 〜づらい → Emotional/social difficulty (talking, asking, expressing emotions, etc.)

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3. 〜やすい Does Not Mean “Cheap”

One common mistake learners make is confusing 〜やすい (easy to do) with 安（やす）い (cheap). Though they sound the same, their meanings are completely different.

❌ Incorrect:

• このレストランは食（た）べやすいです。 (This restaurant is easy to eat?)

✅ Correct:

• このレストランの料理（りょうり）は食（た）べやすいです。
  Kono resutoran no ryouri wa tabe yasui desu.
  → The food at this restaurant is easy to eat.

If you want to say something is cheap, use 安（やす）い (yasui) instead.

• このレストランは安（やす）いです。 (This restaurant is cheap.)

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4. Some Expressions Don’t Work Well with 〜にくい or 〜やすい

While 〜にくい and 〜やすい work for most action verbs, they don’t always sound natural for certain abstract or stative verbs.

❌ Unnatural Sentences:

• 愛（あい）しにくい (Hard to love?)
• 怒（おこ）りやすい (Easy to get angry?)

✅ Natural Alternatives:

• この人（ひと）は理解（りかい）しにくいです。
  Kono hito wa rikai shi nikui desu.
  → This person is hard to understand. (Instead of “hard to love”)
• 彼（かれ）はすぐ怒（おこ）ります。
  Kare wa sugu okorimasu.
  → He gets angry easily. (Instead of “easy to get angry”)

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5. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Can Be Used with Potential Verbs, But It’s Rare

Although 〜にくい and 〜やすい are usually attached to the stem of a verb, they can be used with potential form verbs, but it’s uncommon.

✅ Rare, But Possible:

• この問題（もんだい）は解（と）けやすいです。
  Kono mondai wa toke yasui desu.
  → This problem is easy to solve.
• 彼（かれ）の話（はなし）は信（しん）じにくいです。
  Kare no hanashi wa shinji nikui desu.
  → His story is hard to believe.

💡 However, it’s more common to just use the verb in its normal form!

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6. When to Use Katakana vs. Hiragana for 〜にくい and 〜やすい

Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい are typically written in hiragana, but you may occasionally see them in katakana (ニクイ / ヤスイ) for emphasis. This is common in advertisements, signs, or marketing materials to make the words stand out.

✅ Example in Advertising:

• スープがノミニクイ？ (Is the soup hard to drink?)
• 切（き）りヤスイ包丁（ほうちょう）！ (An easy-to-cut-with knife!)

However, in normal writing, it’s best to stick with hiragana (にくい / やすい).

These are some of the key tricky points and exceptions to keep in mind when using 〜にくい and 〜やすい. Mastering these details will help you avoid common mistakes and sound more natural in Japanese.

In the next section, we’ll go over common mistakes and how to avoid them.

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Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even though 〜にくい and 〜やすい are straightforward to use, learners often make common mistakes when forming sentences. Let’s look at these errors and learn how to avoid them!

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1. Using 〜にくい Instead of 〜づらい for Emotional or Social Difficulty

❌ Incorrect:

• 先生（せんせい）に「いいえ」と言（い）いにくいです。
  Sensei ni “iie” to ii nikui desu.
  → It’s hard to say “no” to my teacher. (Technically correct but sounds unnatural.)

✅ Correct:

• 先生（せんせい）に「いいえ」と言（い）いづらいです。
  Sensei ni “iie” to ii zurai desu.
  → It’s hard to say “no” to my teacher. (More natural because it expresses social/emotional difficulty.)

💡 Tip: Use 〜づらい instead of 〜にくい when talking about psychological or emotional difficulty.

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2. Confusing 〜やすい with 安（やす）い (cheap)

❌ Incorrect:

• この服（ふく）は着（き）やすいですから、買（か）いました。
  Kono fuku wa ki yasui desu kara, kaimashita.
  → (This clothing is easy to wear, so I bought it.) (Sounds okay, but could be misunderstood as “cheap.”)

✅ Correct:

• この服（ふく）は着（き）やすいので、買（か）いました。
  Kono fuku wa ki yasui node, kaimashita.
  → I bought this clothing because it’s easy to wear. (Using “ので” makes it sound smoother.)

💡 Tip: If you mean cheap, use 安（やす）い, not 〜やすい!

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3. Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい with the Wrong Type of Verbs

Since 〜にくい and 〜やすい describe actions, they cannot be used with adjectives or non-action verbs.

❌ Incorrect:

• この部屋（へや）は広（ひろ）やすいです。
  (Kono heya wa hiro yasui desu.) → (This room is easy to be spacious?)
• 彼（かれ）は悲（かな）しにくいです。
  (Kare wa kanashi nikui desu.) → (He is hard to be sad?)

✅ Correct:

• この部屋（へや）は広（ひろ）くて使（つか）いやすいです。
  Kono heya wa hirokute tsukai yasui desu.
  → This room is spacious and easy to use.
• 彼（かれ）は悲（かな）しみを表（あらわ）しにくいです。
  Kare wa kanashimi o arawashi nikui desu.
  → He finds it difficult to express sadness.

💡 Tip: Use 〜にくい and 〜やすい with action verbs only!

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4. Forgetting to Change Group 1 Verbs to the い-Stem

Since Group 1 verbs (Godan verbs) change their ending vowel before attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい, forgetting this rule leads to incorrect conjugation.

❌ Incorrect:

• この本（ほん）は読（よ）むやすいです。
  (Kono hon wa yomu yasui desu.) → (This book is easy to read?)

✅ Correct:

• この本（ほん）は読（よ）みやすいです。
  Kono hon wa yomi yasui desu.
  → This book is easy to read.

💡 Tip: For Group 1 verbs, change the final う sound to い before attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい!

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5. Forgetting That 〜にくい Does Not Mean “Impossible”

Some learners misunderstand 〜にくい as meaning “impossible”, but it only means “difficult”.

❌ Incorrect:

• 漢字（かんじ）は読（よ）みにくいから、全然（ぜんぜん）読（よ）めません。
  (Kanji wa yomi nikui kara, zenzen yomemasen.)
  → (Kanji is hard to read, so I can’t read it at all.)

✅ Correct:

• 漢字（かんじ）は読（よ）みにくいけど、練習（れんしゅう）すれば読（よ）めます。
  Kanji wa yomi nikui kedo, renshuu sureba yomemasu.
  → Kanji is hard to read, but I can read it if I practice.

💡 Tip: 〜にくい means “difficult,” not “impossible”—don’t overuse it!

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6. Using 〜やすい for Something That is “Convenient” Instead of “Easy”

Learners sometimes use 〜やすい to mean “convenient”, but that’s not always correct.

❌ Incorrect:

• このコンビニは行（い）きやすいです。
  (Kono konbini wa iki yasui desu.) → (This convenience store is easy to go?)

✅ Correct:

• このコンビニは近（ちか）くて便利（べんり）です。
  Kono konbini wa chikakute benri desu.
  → This convenience store is close and convenient.

💡 Tip: 〜やすい means “easy to do”, not “convenient”—use 便利（べんり） (benri) instead!

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7. Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Formal Writing

While 〜にくい and 〜やすい are commonly used in spoken and casual written Japanese, they may sound too informal for academic or business writing.

✅ More Formal Alternatives:

• 〜しにくい → 難（むずか）しい (muzukashii) / 困難（こんなん）な (konnan na)
• 〜しやすい → 簡単（かんたん）な (kantan na) / 容易（ようい）な (youi na)

💡 Tip: If writing a business email or essay, consider using 難しい / 簡単な instead!

These are some of the most common mistakes learners make with 〜にくい and 〜やすい. By avoiding these errors, you’ll sound more natural and confident in Japanese.

Next, we’ll practice with example sentences to reinforce what you’ve learned!

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Example Sentences with 〜にくい and 〜やすい

Now, let’s see some example sentences using 〜にくい and 〜やすい in different contexts. Each sentence includes Romaji and English translation to help you understand how these grammar points work in real-life conversations.

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1. Daily Life Sentences

1. この靴（くつ）は歩（ある）きやすいです。
   Kono kutsu wa aruki yasui desu.
   → These shoes are easy to walk in.
2. このドアは開（あ）けにくいですね。
   Kono doa wa ake nikui desu ne.
   → This door is hard to open, isn’t it?
3. 日本語（にほんご）は聞（き）きにくいけど、練習（れんしゅう）すれば上手（じょうず）になります。
   Nihongo wa kiki nikui kedo, renshuu sureba jouzu ni narimasu.
   → Japanese is hard to understand when listening, but if you practice, you’ll improve.
4. このカバンは使（つか）いやすいです。
   Kono kaban wa tsukai yasui desu.
   → This bag is easy to use.
5. このコップは割（わ）れにくいです。
   Kono koppu wa ware nikui desu.
   → This cup is hard to break.

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2. Food & Eating Sentences

6. このスープは飲（の）みやすいです。
   Kono suupu wa nomi yasui desu.
   → This soup is easy to drink.
7. 辛（から）すぎて食（た）べにくいです。
   Karasugite tabe nikui desu.
   → It’s too spicy, so it’s hard to eat.
8. この果物（くだもの）は皮（かわ）がむきやすいです。
   Kono kudamono wa kawa ga muki yasui desu.
   → This fruit’s skin is easy to peel.
9. このステーキは硬（かた）くて切（き）りにくいです。
   Kono suteeki wa katakute kiri nikui desu.
   → This steak is tough and hard to cut.
10. このお茶（ちゃ）は甘（あま）くて飲（の）みやすいです。
    Kono ocha wa amakute nomi yasui desu.
    → This tea is sweet and easy to drink.

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3. Work & Study Sentences

11. このレポートは読（よ）みやすいです。
    Kono repooto wa yomi yasui desu.
    → This report is easy to read.
12. この漢字（かんじ）は書（か）きにくいです。
    Kono kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
    → This kanji is hard to write.
13. この説明（せつめい）は分（わ）かりにくいです。
    Kono setsumei wa wakari nikui desu.
    → This explanation is hard to understand.
14. このノートは線（せん）が入（はい）っていて書（か）きやすいです。
    Kono nooto wa sen ga haitte ite kaki yasui desu.
    → This notebook has lines, so it’s easy to write in.
15. 彼（かれ）の話（はなし）は速（はや）すぎて聞（き）きにくいです。
    Kare no hanashi wa hayasugite kiki nikui desu.
    → His speech is too fast and hard to understand.

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4. Social & Emotional Sentences

16. 上司（じょうし）には頼（たの）み事（ごと）がしにくいです。
    Joushi ni wa tanomi goto ga shi nikui desu.
    → It’s hard to ask my boss for favors.
17. このニュースは信（しん）じにくいです。
    Kono nyuusu wa shinji nikui desu.
    → This news is hard to believe.
18. 彼女（かのじょ）は話（はな）しやすい人（ひと）です。
    Kanojo wa hanashi yasui hito desu.
    → She is an easy person to talk to.
19. この問題（もんだい）は解（と）きやすいです。
    Kono mondai wa toki yasui desu.
    → This problem is easy to solve.
20. 怒（おこ）っている人（ひと）とは話（はな）しにくいです。
    Okotte iru hito to wa hanashi nikui desu.
    → It’s hard to talk to someone who is angry.

These example sentences cover various situations, helping you understand how to naturally use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in daily conversation.

Now, let’s test your understanding with a fill-in-the-blanks exercise!

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Exercise: Fill in the Blanks with 〜にくい or 〜やすい

Now, let’s test your understanding! Fill in the blanks with 〜にくい or 〜やすい using the given word in plain form (in parentheses) as a reference.

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1. Daily Life Situations

1. このペンは_____です。（書く）
   Kono pen wa _____ desu.
   → This pen is _____ to write with.
2. このコップはガラスでできているので、_____です。（割れる）
   Kono koppu wa garasu de dekite iru node, _____ desu.
   → This cup is made of glass, so it’s _____ to break.
3. 彼の字（じ）は小さすぎて_____です。（読む）
   Kare no ji wa chiisasugite _____ desu.
   → His handwriting is too small and _____ to read.
4. 新しい靴（くつ）はとても_____です。（歩く）
   Atarashii kutsu wa totemo _____ desu.
   → New shoes are very _____ to walk in.
5. このボタンは小さくて_____です。（押す）
   Kono botan wa chiisakute _____ desu.
   → This button is small and _____ to press.

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2. Food & Eating Situations

6. スープが熱（あつ）すぎて_____です。（飲む）
   Suupu ga atsusugite _____ desu.
   → The soup is too hot and _____ to drink.
7. この魚（さかな）は骨（ほね）が多くて_____です。（食べる）
   Kono sakana wa hone ga ookute _____ desu.
   → This fish has too many bones and is _____ to eat.
8. このケーキはふわふわで_____です。（切る）
   Kono keeki wa fuwafuwa de _____ desu.
   → This cake is fluffy and _____ to cut.
9. このりんごは皮（かわ）が薄（うす）くて_____です。（むく）
   Kono ringo wa kawa ga usukute _____ desu.
   → This apple has thin skin and is _____ to peel.
10. このジュースは甘（あま）くて_____です。（飲む）
    Kono juusu wa amakute _____ desu.
    → This juice is sweet and _____ to drink.

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3. Work & Study Situations

11. この漢字（かんじ）は複雑（ふくざつ）で_____です。（書く）
    Kono kanji wa fukuzatsu de _____ desu.
    → This kanji is complicated and _____ to write.
12. 先生（せんせい）の説明（せつめい）は分かりやすくて_____です。（勉強する）
    Sensei no setsumei wa wakari yasukute _____ desu.
    → The teacher’s explanation is clear and _____ to study.
13. この資料（しりょう）は文字（もじ）が小さくて_____です。（読む）
    Kono shiryou wa moji ga chiisakute _____ desu.
    → This document has small text and is _____ to read.
14. この本（ほん）は子供（こども）でも_____です。（理解する）
    Kono hon wa kodomo demo _____ desu.
    → This book is simple, so even kids can _____ it easily.
15. 彼の声（こえ）ははっきりしていて_____です。（聞く）
    Kare no koe wa hakkiri shite ite _____ desu.
    → His voice is clear and _____ to hear.

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4. Social & Emotional Situations

16. 彼は優（やさ）しくて_____人（ひと）です。（話す）
    Kare wa yasashikute _____ hito desu.
    → He is kind and _____ to talk to.
17. 初対面（しょたいめん）の人（ひと）とは_____です。（話す）
    Shotaimen no hito to wa _____ desu.
    → It is _____ to talk to people you meet for the first time.
18. この映画（えいが）は感動的（かんどうてき）で_____です。（忘れる）
    Kono eiga wa kandouteki de _____ desu.
    → This movie is touching and _____ to forget.
19. この問題（もんだい）はとても_____です。（解く）
    Kono mondai wa totemo _____ desu.
    → This problem is very _____ to solve.
20. 彼の話（はなし）は嘘（うそ）っぽくて_____です。（信じる）
    Kare no hanashi wa usoppokute _____ desu.
    → His story sounds like a lie and is _____ to believe.

Try filling in the blanks before checking the answers in the next section! 😊

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Answers:

Now, let’s check the correct answers! The correct part is bold, and each sentence includes Romaji and English translation for better understanding.

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1. Daily Life Situations

1. このペンは書きやすいです。
   Kono pen wa kakiyasui desu.
   → This pen is easy to write with.
2. このコップはガラスでできているので、割れやすいです。
   Kono koppu wa garasu de dekite iru node, wareyasui desu.
   → This cup is made of glass, so it’s easy to break.
3. 彼の字（じ）は小さすぎて読みにくいです。
   Kare no ji wa chiisasugite yominikui desu.
   → His handwriting is too small and hard to read.
4. 新しい靴（くつ）はとても歩きやすいです。
   Atarashii kutsu wa totemo arukiyasui desu.
   → New shoes are very easy to walk in.
5. このボタンは小さくて押しにくいです。
   Kono botan wa chiisakute oshinikui desu.
   → This button is small and hard to press.

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2. Food & Eating Situations

6. スープが熱（あつ）すぎて飲みにくいです。
   Suupu ga atsusugite nominikui desu.
   → The soup is too hot and hard to drink.
7. この魚（さかな）は骨（ほね）が多くて食べにくいです。
   Kono sakana wa hone ga ookute tabenikui desu.
   → This fish has too many bones and is hard to eat.
8. このケーキはふわふわで切りにくいです。
   Kono keeki wa fuwafuwa de kirinikui desu.
   → This cake is fluffy and hard to cut.
9. このりんごは皮（かわ）が薄（うす）くてむきやすいです。
   Kono ringo wa kawa ga usukute mukiyasui desu.
   → This apple has thin skin and is easy to peel.
10. このジュースは甘（あま）くて飲みやすいです。
    Kono juusu wa amakute nomiyasui desu.
    → This juice is sweet and easy to drink.

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3. Work & Study Situations

11. この漢字（かんじ）は複雑（ふくざつ）で書きにくいです。
    Kono kanji wa fukuzatsu de kakinikui desu.
    → This kanji is complicated and hard to write.
12. 先生（せんせい）の説明（せつめい）は分かりやすくて勉強しやすいです。
    Sensei no setsumei wa wakariyasukute benkyou shiyasui desu.
    → The teacher’s explanation is clear and easy to study.
13. この資料（しりょう）は文字（もじ）が小さくて読みにくいです。
    Kono shiryou wa moji ga chiisakute yominikui desu.
    → This document has small text and is hard to read.
14. この本（ほん）は子供（こども）でも理解しやすいです。
    Kono hon wa kodomo demo rikai shiyasui desu.
    → This book is simple, so even kids can understand it easily.
15. 彼の声（こえ）ははっきりしていて聞きやすいです。
    Kare no koe wa hakkiri shite ite kikiyasui desu.
    → His voice is clear and easy to hear.

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4. Social & Emotional Situations

16. 彼は優（やさ）しくて話しやすい人（ひと）です。
    Kare wa yasashikute hanashiyasui hito desu.
    → He is kind and easy to talk to.
17. 初対面（しょたいめん）の人（ひと）とは話しにくいです。
    Shotaimen no hito to wa hanashinikui desu.
    → It is hard to talk to people you meet for the first time.
18. この映画（えいが）は感動的（かんどうてき）で忘れにくいです。
    Kono eiga wa kandouteki de wasurenikui desu.
    → This movie is touching and hard to forget.
19. この問題（もんだい）はとても解きにくいです。
    Kono mondai wa totemo tokinikui desu.
    → This problem is very hard to solve.
20. 彼の話（はなし）は嘘（うそ）っぽくて信じにくいです。
    Kare no hanashi wa usoppokute shinjinikui desu.
    → His story sounds like a lie and is hard to believe.

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Summary: Key Takeaways

Here’s a quick recap of everything you learned about 〜にくい and 〜やすい:

✅ Meaning & Function:

• 〜にくい: Indicates something is difficult or hard to do.
• 〜やすい: Indicates something is easy or likely to happen.

✅ Usage Situations:

• 〜にくい is used when an action is physically, mentally, or emotionally difficult.
• 〜やすい is used when an action is effortless, convenient, or happens often.

✅ Conjugation Rules:

• Attach to the stem of a verb:
  • 食べにくい (hard to eat), 食べやすい (easy to eat).
• Works with all three verb groups in Japanese.

✅ Grammar Rules & Exceptions:

• Does NOT describe a person’s ability (use 〜づらい instead).
• Can be used for emotions, like 忘れにくい (hard to forget).
• Sometimes interchangeable with 〜づらい, but 〜づらい has a stronger nuance of emotional difficulty.

✅ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Using 〜にくい for likelihood (use 〜やすい instead).
❌ Using 〜やすい for subjective difficulty (use 〜づらい if it’s emotional).
❌ Forgetting that these forms do NOT conjugate like regular adjectives.

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Conclusion: Mastering 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Japanese

Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve now got a solid understanding of 〜にくい and 〜やすい, two essential grammar points that can help you express difficulty and ease in Japanese. By practicing these structures, you’ll be able to describe actions more naturally and accurately in everyday conversations.

The best way to truly master them is through consistent practice! Try using these forms in your daily sentences, notice how they appear in Japanese books, anime, and conversations, and most importantly—keep practicing with exercises like the ones we covered.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! 😊

• Did you find this guide helpful?
• Do you have any questions about 〜にくい and 〜やすい?
• Want me to cover any other tricky Japanese grammar points?

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

Happy learning! 😊

• JAPANESE
  • Japanese – Advanced
  • Japanese – Beginner
  • Japanese – Intermediate

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