やすい・
Attach these endings to a verb to describe how readily an action can be performed or how readily an event tends to occur. The first presents it as easy or likely to happen; the second presents it as difficult or resistant to happening.
Ease and practical difficulty
やすい and にくい often describe a feature of an explanation, object, tool, or system: it makes an action easier or harder to carry out. The person doing the action does not have to be stated.
Tendency, not just personal effort
With verbs describing changes or events, these endings can mean “prone to” or “resistant to.” In such cases, the sentence describes how readily something happens rather than how easy a deliberate action feels.
The completed expression behaves like an i-adjective
Swipe sideways to compare every column.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nonpast | やすい / にくい | 使いやすい |
| Negative | やすくない / にくくない | 使いやすくない |
| Past | やすかった / にくかった | 使いやすかった |
| Negative past | やすくなかった / にくくなかった | 使いやすくなかった |
前の案内図は文字が小さくて、見やすくなかった。
The previous guide map had small lettering and was not easy to read.
AnalyzeChoosing a difficulty expression
にくい is the broad, neutral choice for practical, physical, perceptual, technical, or psychological difficulty. づらい more often highlights the person’s felt strain, discomfort, or awkwardness, while がたい is formal and limited to certain strongly psychological or evaluative expressions. An ability expression answers whether an action can be done; these endings instead grade how readily it can be done.
More examples
この包丁は軽くて使いやすい。
This kitchen knife is light and easy to use.
Analyzeこのアプリは画面がシンプルで操作しやすいです。
This app has a simple screen and is easy to operate.
Analyze雨の日は道が滑りやすい。
Roads tend to be slippery on rainy days.
Analyzeこのシャツは洗ってもしわになりにくい。
This shirt is resistant to wrinkling even when washed.
Analyze彼の名前は初めて聞く人には発音しにくい。
His name is difficult for people hearing it for the first time to pronounce.
Analyzeこのボタンは手袋をしていると押しにくいです。
This button is hard to press when you are wearing gloves.
Analyze