〜にくい／〜づらい／〜がたい

Let’s look at the differences between “〜にくい” “〜づらい” and “〜がたい” ☺︎

Level

〜にくい N4
〜づらい N4
〜がたい N2

Meaning

It is difficult to …

Structure

Verb stem of ます-form + にくい／づらい／がたい

Tips

〜にくい

• Describe objective or physical difficulties
• Attach to both volitional and non-volitional verbs
• Often interchangeable with 〜づらい for volitional verbs. To compare, 〜にくい is accompanied by more physical difficulties on the part of the speaker.

●この包丁ほうちょうは切きれにくい。/kono hoochoo wa kirenikui/ This knife is hard to cut.
●私わたしの妹いもうとは太ふとりにくい体質たいしつだ。/watashi no imooto wa futoriniui taishitsu da/ My younger sister doesn’t gain weight easily.
●文字もじが小ちいさすぎて読よみにくい。/moji ga chiisasugite yominikui/ It’s hard to read the texts because they are too small.
●天気てんきが悪わるくて洗濯物せんたくものが乾かわきにくい。/tenki ga warukute sentakumono ga kawakinikui/ The laundry doesn’t get dry quickly because of the bad weather.
●あの旅館りょかんは人気にんきなので予約よやくが取とりにくい。/ano ryokan wa ninki nanode yoyaku ga torinikui/ It is difficult to book a room at that ryokan because it is so popular.

〜づらい

• Describe emotional, mental or physical burdens
• Attach to only volitional verbs
• Often interchangeable with 〜にくい for volitional verbs. To compare, 〜づらい is accompanied by the nuance of emotional distress of the speaker.

●あの、ちょっと言いいづらいんですが・・・/ano, chotto iizurai n desu ga…/ Hey, it’s a bit hard to tell you this, but…
●ランチに誘さそわれて、行いきたくないけど断ことわりづらい。/ranchi ni sasowarete, ikitakunai kedo kotowarizurai/ I was invited to the lunch. I don’t want to go no but it’s awkward to say no.
●このハンバーガー、すごく美味おいしいけど大おおきすぎて食たべづらい。/kono hanbaagaa, sugoku oishii kedo ookisugite tabezurai/ This burger is delicious but is too big to eat.
●先週せんしゅう買かったハイヒール、デザインは気きに入いっているけど歩あるきづらい。/senshuu katta haihiiru, dezain wa ki ni itte iru kedo harukizurai/ I like the design of these high heels that I bought last week but it’s difficult to walk in them.
●あの上司じょうしは、ちょっと話はなしかけづらい雰囲気ふんいきがある。/ano jooshi wa, chotto hanasi kakezurai funiki ga aru/ That boss of mine has an atmosphere that he is not very approachable.

〜がたい

• Used for something that is difficult to achieve
• Used in formal settings
• Often used with certain words and sometimes function as idiomatic expressions
• Cannot be used to describe difficulties due to lack of ability

●忘わすれがたい経験けいけんをしました。/wasuregatai keiken o shimashita/ I had an unforgettable experience.
●信しんじがたい話はなしを聞ききました。/shinjigatai hanashi o kikimashita/ I heard an unbelievable story.
●骨折こっせつをしたとき、耐たえがたい痛いたみでした。/kossetsu o shita toki, taegatai itami deshita/ When I had a fractured bone, the pain was unbearable.
●理解りかいしがたい発言はつげんですね。/rikai shigatai hatsugen desu ne/ The statement is difficult to understand, isn’t it?
●許ゆるしがたい行為こういです。/yurushigatai koui desu/ It’s an unacceptable act.

Try the quiz!