GI02 · Easy or hard: 〜やすい

Before you start

The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• GI01say something is excessive

What you learn

〜やすいです／〜にくいです

• やすいeasy to…
• にくいhard to…

やすい (easy to…) and にくい (hard to…) attach to the ます stem: つかいやすい (easy to use), みにくい (hard to see). This やすい is not the adjective やすい (cheap), though it reads the same.

• 機械きかいは 使つかいやすいです。kikai wa tsukaiyasui desu.The machine is easy to use.
• 画面がめんは 見みにくいです。gamen wa minikui desu.The screen is hard to see.
• 名前なまえは 覚おぼえやすいです。namae wa oboeyasui desu.The name is easy to remember.
• 地図ちずは 見みやすいです。chizu wa miyasui desu.The map is easy to read.
• 本ほんは 読よみやすいです。hon wa yomiyasui desu.The book is easy to read.
• 薬くすりは 飲のみにくいです。kusuri wa nominikui desu.The medicine is hard to swallow.

Practice

A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.