We already know how to describe things as easy or difficult regular adjectives such as 「簡単」 or 「難しい」 but in this section, we’ll learn another way to describe an action as easy or difficult.
Easy actions
To describe an action as easy, attach 「やすい」 to the verb stem. The result is treated just like an i-adjective.
Example
- このワインは飲みやすい。
This wine is easy to drink. - このパソコンは使いやすいですか。
Is this computer easy to use? - 分かりやすく説明してください。
Please explain in a easy to understand way.
Difficult actions
Similarly, to describe a difficult action, we can attach 「にくい」 to the verb stem.
Example
- この教科書はちょっと分かりにくい。
This textbook is (a) little hard to understand. - ちょっと高くてもいいですから、壊れにくい方がいいです。
(It’s) ok even if (it’s a) little expensive so (it’s) better that (it’s) hard to break. - ステーキは切れ味鋭いステーキナイフがないと食べにくいよね。
If (you) don’t have (a) sharp steak knife, steak is hard to eat.
We can also use either 「づらい」 or 「がたい」 to express difficulty, which have the following differences in nuance and usages.
- 「にくい」 is the most generic version.
- 「～づらい」, which comes from 「辛い」(painful), is more subjective.
- 「～がたい」 is mostly limited to emotions and thoughts.
All three are attached to the verb stem and the result becomes just like an i-adjective.
Example
- 携帯の画面が暗くて読みにくい。
(The) cellphone’s screen is dark and hard to read. - この靴はかわいいけど、歩きづらいから、あまり履かない。
These shoes are cute but (it’s) hard to walk so (I) don’t wear (them) much. - 信じがたいかもしれませんが、本当の話です。
(It) may be hard to believe but (it’s a story) that’s true.