672 - ~やすい

JLPT N4: ~やすい (easy to VERB)

Nice, simple lesson today.

When you add ~やすい to the ます-stem of a VERB, it means "easy to VERB."


このカクテルは甘くて飲みやすいです。
この カクテル は あまくて のみやすい です。
This cocktail is sweet and easy to drink.
Literally: “this + cocktail + は + sweet (and) + easy to drink / drink easily + です.”

飲む(のむ // to drink

飲みます(のみます // drink

飲みやすいのみやすい // easy to drink


Is this the same やすい that means "cheap" or "inexpensive?

No, it is not. You're unlikely to see the kanji version of this i-adjective, but technically it's

易い (やすい // easy)

...not to be confused with the common standalone i-adjective that does use kanji:

安い (やすい // cheap; inexpensive)

For example, if you're at a restaurant looking at the menu with a friend, and you notice the prices are cheap, you can say:


安いね。
やすい ね。
It’s cheap, huh?
Literally: “cheap + ね?”


Once more, here is the formation pattern:

V ますやすい
easy to VERB


And here is another example:


TPPの意味をわかりやすく教えてください。
ティーピーピー の いみ を わかりやすく おしえて ください。
Could you please explain TPP to me in a way that is easy to understand?
Literally: “TPP + の + meaning + を + easy to understand / understand easily + teach (and) + please.”


And another:


軽くて持ち運びやすいノートパソコンが欲しいです。
かるくて もちはこびやすい ノートパソコン が ほしい です。
I want a laptop that’s light and easy to carry around.
Literally: “light (and) + easy to carry / carry easily + laptop (=notebook PC) + が + wanted + です.”


In all of the examples so far, the VERB in "easy to VERB" has been a good thing.

But you can also use ~やすい to say that unwanted things are "easy to VERB."

Here's an example using the verb さびる, which means "to rust":


鉄の包丁はさびやすいから手入れが面倒です。
てつ の ほうちょう は さびやすい から ていれ が めんどう です。
Iron knives rust easily, so taking care of them is a pain.
Literally: “iron + の + kitchen knife + は + easy to rust / rust easily + because + maintenance / tending to + が + a pain / a hassle + です.”


Finished!

I think that you'll find this grammar pattern to be 使いやすい (つかいやすい // easy to use) once you practice it a bit.

And it's useful, too!

In the next N4 lesson, we'll look at its counterpart, ~にくい.




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