1.
convenient, useful, handy
Easy to use or helpful in making things easier. Describes things, places, or services that save time or effort.
便利 is a na-adjective meaning convenient, useful, or handy—describing things that save time and effort.
Forms
- Predicate: 便利です (is convenient)
- Modifying nouns: 便利な + noun
Common patterns
- 〜に便利: convenient for ~
- 便利な場所: convenient location
- 便利な道具: handy tool
- 交通の便がいい: good transportation access
Similar words
- 不便: inconvenient
- 役に立つ: serves a purpose, does its job. 便利 adds that it saves time or trouble.
- 使いやすい: easy to operate. A tool can be 便利 (it solves a problem) yet not 使いやすい (it is awkward to handle).
- 快適: physically comfortable. 便利 is about effort saved, 快適 about how it feels.
Usage
Things, places, services, and arrangements — a tool, an app, a location near a station, an opening time. It is not used to praise a person's character; 便利な人 means someone others find handy to use, which is unflattering. To say a person is helpful, use 親切 or say they 役に立つ.
Related Words
Antonym:
不便 (inconvenient)
Related:
役に立つ (to be useful)
Related:
使いやすい (easy to use)
Compare:
利便性 (convenience, accessibility)
Compare:
簡便 (handy)
Compare:
都合がいい (convenient)