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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜にくい

    〜にくい

    〜にくい

    This means something is hard to do. It is hard because of how that thing is.

    N4KMT3NeutralStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedDifficulty And Ease Of ActionGrammar

    Verb [stem] + にくいPrimary

    This means something is hard to do. It is hard because of how that thing is.

    このペンはとても書かきにくいです。

    This pen is very difficult to write with.

    PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDeclarativeDaily LifeEducation
    彼かれの説せつ明めいは分わかりにくかったので、もう一いち度ど質しつ問もんしました。

    His explanation was difficult to understand, so I asked again.

    PolitePastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWork & CareerEducation
    この本ほんは思おもったより読よみにくくないよ。

    This book isn't as difficult to read as I thought.

    CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingDeclarativeLiterature
    これは壊こわれにくい素そ材ざいで作つくられたおもちゃです。

    This is a toy made from a material that is difficult to break.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalDeclarativeTechnologyDaily Life
    人ひと前まえで話はなしにくいと感かんじる人ひとは多おおい。

    Many people feel that it is difficult to speak in front of others.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceDeclarativeEmotions & Psychology

    This grammar works like a regular adjective. You can change its ending. You can say 'was hard to do'. You can say 'is not hard to do'. You can use it to describe a noun. For example, 'shoes that are hard to walk in'.

    〜にくい is for things that are hard to do because of the thing itself. For example, a hard bone is hard to eat. 〜づらい is for when you find something hard to do because of how you feel. For example, you are sick so it is hard for you to eat. 〜がたい is for ideas, like "hard to believe" or "hard to forgive." You do not use it for simple actions.

    Don't use this when you cannot control the action. For example, you cannot say "it is hard for it to rain."

    Often confused with(1)

    〜づらい

    This means something is hard to do. It feels difficult for you to do it.

    Contrasts with(1)

    〜やすい

    This grammar shows that something is easy to do. It means an action is not hard to finish.

    Less formal alternatives(1)

    〜ないわけにはいかない

    You use this phrase when you feel you must do something. It means you have no other choice. You feel a strong need to do it.

    Verb stem form

    This is a special form of a verb. You use it to join verbs together. You can also use it to make a noun from a verb.

    〜い / 〜かった

    This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    contrasts_with

    • 〜やすい

    often_confused_with

    • 〜づらい

    Similar concepts

    • 〜がたい

    prerequisite

    • Verb stem form
    • 〜い / 〜かった
    • 〜かねる
    • 申し上げにくいのですが

    less_formal_than

    • 〜ないわけにはいかない

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