easy to ~/hard to ~

Beginner

10-15 min

common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Describes how easy or difficult something is to do.

[Verb stem] + やすい/にくい

この本は読みやすいです。

Kono hon wa yomiyasui desu.

This book is easy to read.

漢字は覚えにくいです。

Kanji wa oboenikui desu.

Kanji are hard to remember.

Describes inherent ease/difficulty, not ability.

～てもいいです

may do ~, it's okay to do ~

～てはいけません

must not do ~, not allowed to do ~

～なければなりません

must do ~, have to do ~

～なくてもいいです

don't have to do ~, don't need to do ~

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 10

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