What is 〜やすい?
〜やすい attaches to verb stems to express that something is easy to do or has a tendency to happen.
読みやすい
"easy to read"
分かりやすい
"easy to understand"
壊れやすい
"easy to break / fragile"
Formation
Pattern: Verb stem (ます form minus ます) + やすい
| Dictionary | ます form | Stem | + やすい |
|---|---|---|---|
| 読む (read) | 読みます | 読み | 読みやすい |
| 書く (write) | 書きます | 書き | 書きやすい |
| 食べる (eat) | 食べます | 食べ | 食べやすい |
| する (do) | します | し | しやすい |
| 来る (come) | 来ます | 来 | 来やすい |
Examples
飲む → 飲みやすい (easy to drink)
使う → 使いやすい (easy to use)
分かる → 分かりやすい (easy to understand)
忘れる → 忘れやすい (easy to forget)
壊れる → 壊れやすい (breaks easily)
Meaning: Easy to Do
For actions you do:
この本は読みやすい
"This book is easy to read"
この椅子は座りやすい
"This chair is easy to sit on"
このペンは書きやすい
"This pen is easy to write with"
For natural occurrences:
このコップは割れやすい
"This glass breaks easily"
この服は汚れやすい
"These clothes get dirty easily"
風邪を引きやすい
"I catch colds easily"
やすい as an い-Adjective
やすい conjugates like an い-adjective:
Present/Future
読みやすい - easy to read
読みやすいです - easy to read (polite)
Negative
読みやすくない - not easy to read
読みやすくないです - not easy to read (polite)
読みやすくありません - not easy to read (formal)
Past
読みやすかった - was easy to read
読みやすかったです - was easy to read (polite)
Past Negative
読みやすくなかった - wasn't easy to read
読みやすくなかったです - wasn't easy to read (polite)
Common Patterns
Describing objects
使いやすいペン
"an easy-to-use pen"
読みやすい本
"an easy-to-read book"
分かりやすい説明
"an easy-to-understand explanation"
着やすい服
"easy-to-wear clothes"
Describing tendency
彼は怒りやすい
"He gets angry easily"
私は太りやすい
"I gain weight easily"
この道は滑りやすい
"This road is slippery / gets slippery easily"
Common Verbs with やすい
Understanding/Learning
分かりやすい - easy to understand
覚えやすい - easy to remember
学びやすい - easy to learn
理解しやすい - easy to comprehend
Using/Handling
使いやすい - easy to use
持ちやすい - easy to hold
操作しやすい - easy to operate
Reading/Writing
読みやすい - easy to read
書きやすい - easy to write
Physical States
壊れやすい - breaks easily / fragile
割れやすい - breaks/cracks easily
汚れやすい - gets dirty easily
傷つきやすい - gets scratched/hurt easily
Body/Health
太りやすい - gains weight easily
痩せやすい - loses weight easily
疲れやすい - gets tired easily
風邪を引きやすい - catches colds easily
Common Conversations
Example 1: Shopping
A: このペンは使いやすいですか？
"Is this pen easy to use?"
B: はい、とても書きやすいです
"Yes, it's very easy to write with"
A: じゃあ、これを買います
"Then I'll buy this"
Example 2: Book Recommendation
A: 何かいい本はありますか？
"Are there any good books?"
B: この本は読みやすいですよ
"This book is easy to read"
A: 初心者にも分かりやすいですか？
"Is it easy to understand for beginners?"
B: はい、とても分かりやすいです
"Yes, very easy to understand"
Example 3: Health
A: 最近疲れやすいんです
"I get tired easily lately"
B: ちゃんと寝ていますか？
"Are you sleeping properly?"
A: いいえ、あまり...
"No, not really..."
Expressing Degrees
Very easy
とても読みやすい
"very easy to read"
すごく使いやすい
"extremely easy to use"
非常に分かりやすい
"very easy to understand"
Somewhat easy
まあまあ読みやすい
"fairly easy to read"
比較的使いやすい
"relatively easy to use"
Not very easy
あまり読みやすくない
"not very easy to read"
それほど使いやすくない
"not that easy to use"
Comparing Things
より (more)
Aの方がBより読みやすい
"A is easier to read than B"
この椅子の方が座りやすい
"This chair is easier to sit on"
一番 (most)
これが一番使いやすい
"This is the easiest to use"
この説明が一番分かりやすかった
"This explanation was the easiest to understand"
With Different Particles
が for the thing being described
この本が読みやすい
"This book is easy to read"
このペンが書きやすい
"This pen is easy to write with"
は for topic/contrast
この本は読みやすいです
"As for this book, it's easy to read"
この方法は理解しやすい
"This method is easy to understand"
Personality and Tendencies
Emotional tendencies
怒りやすい人
"A person who gets angry easily"
泣きやすい
"Cries easily"
笑いやすい
"Laughs easily"
緊張しやすい
"Gets nervous easily"
Physical tendencies
太りやすい体質
"A body type that gains weight easily"
日焼けしやすい肌
"Skin that tans easily"
汗をかきやすい
"Sweats easily"
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using dictionary form
Wrong: 読むやすい ❌
Right: 読みやすい ✓
"Easy to read"
Use the stem (ます form minus ます)!
Mistake 2: Confusing with できる
読みやすい ≠ 読める
"Easy to read" ≠ "Can read"
読みやすい = Easy to do (quality)
読める = Able to do (ability)
Mistake 3: Wrong conjugation
Wrong: 読みやすです ❌
Right: 読みやすいです ✓
"Is easy to read"
やすい is an い-adjective!
Mistake 4: Using with non-action verbs
Unnatural: いるやすい ❌
Not used: あるやすい ❌
やすい works with action verbs!
Formal Writing
Academic/Business
この方法は実施しやすい
"This method is easy to implement"
理解しやすい説明をお願いします
"Please give an easy-to-understand explanation"
アクセスしやすい場所
"An easily accessible location"
Negative Nuance
Sometimes やすい can have negative implications:
騙されやすい
"Easy to deceive / gullible"
壊れやすい
"Breaks easily / fragile" (negative quality)
忘れやすい
"Forgetful / easily forgets"
Practice Sentences
Basic
この本は読みやすい
"This book is easy to read"
分かりやすい説明でした
"It was an easy-to-understand explanation"
使いやすいです
"It's easy to use"
Intermediate
この椅子は座りやすくて、とても快適です
"This chair is easy to sit on and very comfortable"
最近疲れやすくなりました
"I've been getting tired easily lately"
彼は怒りやすい性格です
"He has a personality that gets angry easily"
Advanced
このソフトウェアは初心者にも操作しやすく設計されています
"This software is designed to be easy to operate even for beginners"
ストレスが溜まりやすい環境は避けるべきです
"You should avoid environments where stress accumulates easily"
この素材は汚れやすいので、取り扱いに注意が必要です
"This material gets dirty easily, so care is needed in handling it"
Related Grammar Points
- 〜にくい - Hard to do (opposite)
- 〜がちだ - Tend to (negative tendency)
- Potential form - Can do
- 〜やすくなる - Become easier to
- い-adjective conjugation - Adjective forms
- Tendency expressions - Expressing habits