〜にかたくない

Not difficult to…; Easy to…

1. Overview

「〜にかたくない」 is used to express that understanding, imagining, or empathizing with a situation or feeling is not difficult. It often describes the ease of grasping certain emotions, thoughts, or circumstances based on prior knowledge or experience, highlighting the naturalness of this understanding or empathy.

2. Structure

• Noun + にかたくない
• Verb (dictionary form) + にかたくない

3. Usage Explanation

• Expresses understanding, imagination, or empathy:
  This phrase is commonly used to describe situations where it’s not difficult to understand or imagine someone’s feelings or circumstances based on available information or emotions.

• English translation:
  Can be translated as “not difficult to…” or “easy to imagine/understand…”

4. Example Sentences

1. 彼の失望は想像にかたくない。
   His disappointment is easy to imagine.

2. 成功をつかむために、彼女がどれだけ努力したかは理解にかたくない。
   It’s not difficult to understand how much effort she put into achieving success.

3. 長い別れの後の再会が、どれほど感動的だったかは想像にかたくない。
   It’s easy to imagine how emotional their reunion was after a long separation.

4. 親を失った子供たちの悲しみは、察するにかたくない。
   It’s not hard to sense the sorrow of children who’ve lost their parents.

5. 彼が勝利を収めたときの喜びは、理解にかたくない。
   It’s easy to understand his joy upon winning.

5. Key Points to Note

• Formal tone:
  「〜にかたくない」 is a formal, literary expression, often appearing in written or polite contexts.

• Emphasis on emotional resonance:
  This phrase is typically used in contexts where empathy or understanding of someone’s emotions is implied, emphasizing a natural resonance or shared feeling.

6. Similar Grammar

• 〜に違いない: Used to express certainty or assumption, but does not carry the emotional resonance of empathy.
  • Example: 彼は成功をつかむために努力したに違いない。
    He must have put in a lot of effort to achieve success.

7. Alternative Grammar

• 〜に決まっている: Also used for assumptions, but conveys more of a subjective judgment than empathy.
  • Example: 彼が勝利を喜んでいるに決まっている。
    He must be thrilled about his victory.

8. Summary

「〜にかたくない」 is a formal phrase used to convey empathy or understanding when it’s easy to imagine or grasp someone else’s emotions or situation. It’s commonly found in written language and carries a strong sense of emotional connection.