Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 2/18

～易(やす)い

Easy to, Likely to

Structure

Verb［ます］+ やすい

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About やすい

易(やす)い is an い-Adjective that is regularly seen attached to the ます stem of verbs (the form of a verb that can be used as a noun). When attached in this way, it carries the meaning of 'easy to (A)', where (A) is the verb that comes before やすい.
  • 私(わたし)は食(た)べやすいサイズにステーキを切(き)る。
    I will cut the steak into a size that's easy to eat.
  • この漫画(まんが)にはフリガナがついているから読(よ)みやすいです。
    Since this manga has furigana included, it's easy to read.
Sometimes, やすい has a translation that is a bit closer to 'prone to (A)', or 'likely to (A)' in English. This nuance is regularly seen when the verb is related to emotions.
  • あの先輩(せんぱい)は怒(おこ)りやすいからめんどくさい。
    That senpai is prone to getting angry, so he's annoying.
  • カスミちゃんは泣(な)きやすいから優(やさ)しくしてね。
    Kasumi is likely to cry, so please be nice to her. (Kasumi cries easily)
Caution
There is another adjective 安(やす)い that has the meaning of 'cheap'. This kanji should never be used with verbs to mean 'easy'. Most of the time, やすい itself will be written in hiragana, and usage of 易(やす)い is quite limited.
Fun Fact
Although 易(やす)い is an い-Adjective, it is almost never used by itself (when not attached to verbs). In such cases, it is much more natural to use the な-Adjective 簡単(かんたん).
  • 昨日(きのう)やすいゲームを買(か)った。
    The game that I bought yesterday was cheap. (安(やす)い meaning cheap, not 易(やす)い meaning easy)
  • 私(わたし)は簡単(かんたん)なゲームが好(す)きです。
    I enjoy easy games. (易(やす)い would not work here, as it is not usually used without a verb)

Examples

  • ケーキは作(つく)りやすい。

    Cake is easy to make.

  • 東京(とうきょう)から大阪(おおさか)へは電車(でんしゃ)が行(い)きやすいですよ。

    It is easy to go from Tokyo to Osaka by train!

  • 今日(きょう)の宿題(しゅくだい)は少(すく)なかったので、しやすかった。

    Since there was only a little homework today, it was easy to do.

  • この魚(さかな)は食(た)べやすいです。

    This fish is easy to eat.

    This is naturally translated as 'palatable'.

  • 昨日(きのう)の練習(れんしゅう)はしやすかった。

    Yesterday's practice was easy to do.

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やすい – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • EdBunpro

    EdBunpro

    At first glance, I think of a fish with little to no bones that you have to sift through before eating every bite or so. Probably not related to flavor, at least IMO.

  • Megumin

    Megumin

    I think it could go both ways, it’s subject to interpretation due to not having the context.

  • ianibanez

    ianibanez

    Apologies if this is the wrong forum to ask this, since I was directed here when I tried to submit a question regarding something in my reviews.

    Why does the hint display “Past”?

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