Meaning and Usage
The suffix ～にくい attaches to the stem of a verb to express that something is difficult or hard to do. It conveys a sense of physical or mental difficulty in performing the action.
Common Collocations
- 書きにくい (hard to write): used when a pen or surface makes writing difficult.
- 理解しにくい (hard to understand): used for concepts or speech that are complicated.
- 食べにくい (hard to eat): used when food is awkward or messy to eat.
Nuances and Register
～にくい is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese. It often implies a practical difficulty rather than impossibility.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse ～にくい with ～にくくない (not hard to do) or ～にくい with ～づらい, which is more formal and often expresses emotional or psychological difficulty. Use ～にくい for general physical or practical difficulty.