〜にくい

Difficult to ...; Hard to do ...

1. Overview

「〜にくい」is a Japanese expression used to describe that an action or behavior is relatively difficult to perform. It often highlights the challenges or obstacles involved in carrying out a specific action.

2. Structure

• Grammar Structure:

  • Verb (masu-form) minus "masu" + にくい

• Explanation: This structure indicates that a certain action is hard to execute, often used to describe the nature of verbs or actions that are challenging.

3. Usage Explanation

• Connection: This expression is commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, especially when discussing the difficulty of tasks or actions.

• Translation: It is generally translated as "difficult to ...," "hard to ...," or "not easy to ...".

4. Example Sentences

1. この問題は解きにくいです。
   This problem is difficult to solve.

2. この本は読みにくいです。
   This book is hard to read.

3. この道は歩きにくいです。
   This road is difficult to walk on.

4. このソフトウェアは使いにくいです。
   This software is hard to use.

5. 彼と話すのは、気を使うので話しにくいです。
   It's hard to talk to him because it requires a lot of consideration.

5. Alternative Grammar

• 〜にくなる: Indicates that a state or situation becomes harder.
  • Example: 新しい規則ができて、仕事がにくくなった。
    With the new regulations, the work has become more difficult.

6. Related Grammar

• 〜やすい: Opposite of 「〜にくい」, indicating that an action or behavior is relatively easy to perform.
  • Example: この問題は解きやすいです。
    This problem is easy to solve.

7. Notes

• Context: 「〜にくい」is applicable in various situations, particularly when discussing challenges or difficulties related to actions or tasks.

• Tone: This expression typically carries a negative tone, emphasizing difficulty or inconvenience.

8. Summary

「〜にくい」is a commonly used Japanese expression that describes an action or behavior as relatively difficult to perform. It is suitable for various contexts and effectively conveys challenges or obstacles in executing certain actions.