〜にくい: meaning and usage

How to form it

• verb (masu-stem)+にくい

How it is used

“Hard to do”, conjugated like an い-adjective. It can also mean “unlikely to happen” (「割れにくい」). The opposite is 「〜やすい」; for something hard because it is unpleasant for you, 「〜づらい」 is common.

Examples

1. あなたの質問は答えにくい。

   Your question is hard to answer.

2. この靴は歩きにくいです。

   These shoes are hard to walk in.

3. このコップは、落としても割れにくいです。

   This cup doesn't break easily, even if you drop it.

4. 言いにくいんですが、その日はちょっと都合が悪いです。

   This is hard to say, but that day doesn't really work for me.