Structure
Verb[ます]+ にくい
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Standard
使用域
一般
About にくい
Like 易い, にくい is an い-Adjective that is regularly attached to the ます stem of verbs. However, instead of meaning 'easy to (A)', it means 'difficult to (A)'. (A) will always represent the verb that comes before にくい.
- この駐車場は狭いから止めにくい。This parking lot is very cramped, so it is difficult to park.
- 今日は具合が悪いから呼吸がしにくい。Because I am not feeling well today, it is hard to breathe.
- 私には英語の「Literally」という単語がとても言いにくい。For me, the English word 'literally' is very hard to say. (Hard due to the individual's skill level)
- お前には本当に言いづらいけど、お前のギターを壊した。ごめん。This is very difficult for me to say to you, but I broke your guitar. I'm sorry. (Hard because the speaker knows that telling the listener will cause a negative response)
Fun Fact
An easy way to remember the difference in nuance between にくい and づらい, is that にくい comes from the same kanji as 難しい, which usually carries the meaning of 'difficulty' (in relation to skill being required).Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
甘くないケーキは食べにくい。
Cakes that aren't sweet are hard to eat.
アフリカには行きにくいです。
It is hard to go to Africa.
怖いことはしにくいです。
It is difficult to do scary things.
あの人とは話しにくいです。
That person is hard to talk to. (Unapproachable)
このコップ、形が変だから飲みにくい。
Because this cup has a strange shape, it is hard to drink out of.
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V + やすい & V + にくい
MaggieSensei
「〜にくい」vs. 「〜づらい」
NHK 文研
Offline
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 163
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 193
みんなの日本語 II
Page 120 [CH 44]
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
114
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 307
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 275
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 16
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にくい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
oddic
漢字は覚えにくいと思う。This is almost exactly the sentence where Genki warns that it is odd to use にくい (this case being an example of difficulty defined in terms of physical or statistical success rate). They say that 漢字は覚えにくい should be interpreted as “I have kanji anxieties” instead of commenting on the general process of learning kanji. They advise using 難しい to express the latter. Can anyone shed some light?
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