Hard to 〜にくい

Meaning

"Hard to ~", "does not easily ~". The opposite of 〜やすい.

Formation

[verb ます-stem] + にくい · 読みます → 読みにくい

Notes

Also conjugates as an i-adjective. にくい is about difficulty inherent in the thing; for "I cannot do it", use the potential negative: 読めません. 〜づらい is a near-synonym carrying more of a sense of personal discomfort.

Examples

この字（じ）は小（ちい）さくて読（よ）みにくいです。

This writing is small and hard to read.

Breakdown

このじこの字 this writing ちいさくて小さくて is small and よみにくい読みにくい hard to read

この肉（にく）は硬（かた）くて食（た）べにくいです。

This meat is tough and hard to eat.

Breakdown

このにくこの肉 this meat かたくて硬くて is tough and たべにくい食べにくい hard to eat

この靴（くつ）は歩（ある）きにくいです。

These shoes are hard to walk in.

Breakdown

このくつこの靴 these shoes あるきにくい歩きにくい hard to walk in

彼（かれ）の名前（なまえ）は覚（おぼ）えにくいです。

His name is hard to remember.

Breakdown

かれ彼 he のなまえの名前 's name おぼえにくい覚えにくい hard to remember

この道（みち）は夜（よる）、運転（うんてん）しにくいです。

This road is hard to drive on at night.

Breakdown

このみちこの道 this road よる夜 at night うんてんしにくい運転しにくい hard to drive

⚠️ Often confused with

〜やすい

Easy to 〜やすい

"Easy to ~", "tends to ~". Attaches to a verb stem and turns the whole thing into an i-adj...

〜がたい

Hard to bring oneself to 〜がたい

"Hard to ~", "impossible to bring oneself to ~".