Easy or Hard to Do?｜〜やすい・〜にくい
When shopping, describing tools, or explaining a procedure, you often need to say whether something is easy or difficult to handle. In Japanese, simply attach 〜やすい (easy to do) or 〜にくい (hard to do) to the verb stem. Both compound forms conjugate just like regular i-adjectives. Master these useful descriptive phrases for daily life and work.
物の使いやすさや、することが簡単か難しいかを言うときに『やすい』と『にくい』を使います。道具の特徴を説明する練習をしましょう。
Expressing ease: 〜やすい
Take the masu-form of a verb, drop ます, and add やすい (e.g. 使います → 使いやすい). This expresses that an action can be performed effortlessly, smoothly, or without trouble.
動詞の『ます』を取って『やすい』をつけます。操作が楽なときや、簡単にできるときに使います。
Expressing difficulty: 〜にくい
Similarly, attach にくい to the verb stem (e.g. 読みます → 読みにくい). This describes that an action is physically difficult, inconvenient, or creates psychological hesitation.
動詞の『ます』を取って『にくい』をつけます。やりにくいことや、不便なことを表します。
Conjugating like i-adjectives
Both patterns behave like standard i-adjectives: 使いやすくて (te-form), 使いやすくない (negative), 使いやすかった (past). This allows flexible combinations when describing products.
どちらもイ形容詞と同じように変化します。『使いやすくて便利』や『分かりやすくない』のように使えます。
Describing characteristics vs personal ability
These patterns describe the inherent nature or physical property of an object (e.g. this pen writes smoothly), not someone's general talent or cognitive capability.
物そのものの性質や特徴を言うときに使うのがポイントです。
Examples / 例
The following scenes and exercises were written for this lesson. They do not describe an actual service or event.
このスマートフォンは軽くて、使いやすいです。
This smartphone is light and easy to use.
Describing an ergonomic and intuitive electronic device.
この文字は小さくて、少し読みにくいです。
These letters are small and a bit difficult to read.
Describing legibility of print or a screen.
この説明書はとても分かりやすいですね。
This user manual is very easy to understand, isn't it?
Complimenting clear, user-friendly instructions.
この靴は滑りにくくて、歩きやすいです。
These shoes do not slip easily and are easy to walk in.
Highlighting safety and comfort features in footwear.
Practice / 練習
Read each situation. Say your answer before opening “Answer and explanation.”
Q1. You recommend a pen that writes smoothly: このボールペンはとても（書きやすい／書きにくい）ですよ。
Answer and explanation
書きやすい
Use 〜やすい to express smooth, effortless operation.
Q2. How do you attach やすい to the verb 飲みます (to drink)?
Answer and explanation
飲みやすい
Remove ます from 飲みます and attach やすい.
Q3. The medicine is bitter and hard to swallow: この薬は苦くて、（飲みやすい／飲みにくい）です。
Answer and explanation
飲みにくい
Use 〜にくい to describe difficulty or unpleasant resistance.
Q4. Form the negative polite form of 使いやすい (It is not easy to use).
Answer and explanation
使いやすくないです（または、使いやすくありません）
Conjugate the final い into くない (使いやすくないです).
Words / 言葉
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 道具 | tool; implement |
| 特徴 | feature; characteristic |
| 説明書 | instruction manual |
| 簡単 | simple; easy |
| 便利 | convenient; handy |
A phrase to use
この掃除機は軽くて、とても動かしやすいです。
This vacuum cleaner is light and very easy to maneuver.
Sources
Grammar reference: The Japan Foundation, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan. The explanations here are concise original summaries; examples and practice questions are original.