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〜やすい・〜にくい

easy to, hard to

Verb ます-stem + やすい / にくい

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Verb ます-stem + やすい means "easy to do", and + にくい means "hard to do": このペンは書きやすい, "this pen is easy to write with"; この漢字は覚えにくい, "this kanji is hard to remember".

The result is an い-adjective: 書きやすくない, 分かりやすかった.

やすい also means "likely to, prone to", for things that happen by themselves: 雨の日は道が滑りやすい, "roads get slippery on rainy days".

Don't confuse it with 安い ("cheap"), the same sound. And for "difficult" in general, not tied to a verb, it's 難しい; にくい is always about doing something.

Examples

  • このペンは書かきやすいです。

    This pen is easy to write with.

  • 先生せんせいの説明せつめいはいつも分わかりやすい。

    The teacher's explanations are always easy to follow.

  • この漢字かんじは覚おぼえにくいです。

    This kanji is hard to remember.

  • 雨あめの日ひは道みちが滑すべりやすい。

    Roads get slippery on rainy days.

  • この靴くつは歩あるきにくいです。

    These shoes are hard to walk in.

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