～にくい

にくい
auxiliary adjective
hard to, difficult to
See also: 〜にくい (hard to (suffix))
1. hard to ~, difficult to ~
Attached to verb stems to indicate difficulty in performing an action.
食(た)べにくい。
It's hard to eat.
この漢字(かんじ)は読(よ)みにくい。
This kanji is hard to read.
この靴(くつ)は歩(ある)きにくくて足(あし)が痛(いた)い。
These shoes are hard to walk in, and my feet hurt.
先生(せんせい)に言(い)いにくいことがある。
There is something that's hard to say to the teacher.
この説明書(せつめいしょ)は字(じ)が小(ちい)さくて読(よ)みにくいので、もっと大(おお)きく書(か)いてほしい。
This manual has small text and is hard to read, so I want it written larger.

～にくい is an auxiliary adjective attached to verb stems to express difficulty in doing something.

FORMATION:
Verb stem (ます form without ます) + にくい
読(よ)む → 読(よ)み + にくい → 読(よ)みにくい

COMMON EXAMPLES:

  • 読(よ)みにくい: hard to read
  • 分(わ)かりにくい: hard to understand
  • 食(た)べにくい: hard to eat
  • 使(つか)いにくい: hard to use
  • 言(い)いにくい: hard to say
  • 歩(ある)きにくい: hard to walk (in)

CONJUGATES AS I-ADJECTIVE:

  • 読(よ)みにくかった: was hard to read
  • 読(よ)みにくくない: not hard to read

OPPOSITE:
～やすい: easy to ~

core
Added 2026.1.9 18:15 · Revised 2026.3.25 21:57
02000/02458_nikui