～にくい
Difficult to do
You'll be able to describe an action that is difficult because of the situation or the thing involved.
この肉は硬くて、切りにくいです。
kono niku wa katakute, kirinikui desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
This meat is tough and hard to cut.
Describe a difficult action
～にくい describes an action as difficult because of the thing or conditions involved. It can also describe something as resistant to a change.
この靴は歩きにくいです。
kono kutsu wa arukinikui desu.
These shoes are difficult to walk in.
Form and use ～にくい
The result conjugates as an い-adjective. Difficulty is not impossibility: 読みにくい says reading takes effort, while 読めない says it cannot be read in that situation.
この靴は歩きにくいです。
kono kutsu wa arukinikui desu.
These shoes are difficult to walk in.
このコップは割れにくいです。
kono koppu wa warenikui desu.
This cup is hard to break.
このパンは硬くて、小さい子どもには食べにくいです。
kono pan wa katakute, chiisai kodomo ni wa tabenikui desu.
This bread is hard, so it's difficult for small children to eat.
この説明書は字が小さくて読みにくいです。
kono setsumeisho wa ji ga chiisakute yominikui desu.
The letters in this manual are small, so it's hard to read.
このコートは汚れにくいので、子どもにいいです。
kono kooto wa yogorenikui node, kodomo ni ii desu.
This coat doesn't get dirty easily, so it's good for children.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.