Usage Explanation ①: やさしい (yasashii) – “Easy” & “Kind”

やさしい (yasashii) is an i-adjective. It has two main meanings depending on the Kanji (though it is often written in Hiragana).

1. Easy (易しい): Not difficult. Solvable. Accessible. (Opposite: 難しい – muzukashii)
2. Kind (優しい): Gentle, nice, caring. (Opposite: 厳しい – kibishii / 意地悪 – ijiwaru)

Example 1: (Easy problem)

この問題（もんだい）はやさしいです。(Kono mondai wa yasashii desu.)

This problem is easy. (Not difficult)

Example 2: (Kind person)

田中（たなか）さんは、とてもやさしい人（ひと）です。(Tanaka-san wa, totemo yasashii hito desu.)

Mr. Tanaka is a very kind person.

Example 3: (Gentle words)

やさしい日本語（にほんご）で話（はな）してください。(Yasashii nihongo de hanashite kudasai.)

Please speak in easy (and gentle) Japanese.

Usage Explanation ②: かんたん (kantan) – “Simple” & “Easy”

かんたん (kantan) is a na-adjective. It means “simple,” “brief,” or “uncomplicated.”

It emphasizes that the process or structure is not complex. It takes little time or effort.

Example 1: (Simple process)

この料理（りょうり）は、かんたんです。(Kono ryōri wa, kantan desu.)

This dish is simple (easy to make).

Example 2: (Easy to use)

このスマホは、使（つか）い方（かた）がかんたんです。(Kono sumaho wa, tsukaikata ga kantan desu.)

This smartphone is simple to use.

Example 3: (Brief)

かんたんな自己紹介（じこしょうかい）をお願（ねが）いします。(Kantan na jiko-shōkai o onegai shimasu.)

Please give a brief (simple) self-introduction.

Comparison: やさしい vs かんたん

Check the adjective type and the core meaning!

Common Mistake Examples

Mistake 1: Describing a person

Wrong:

先生（せんせい）は、かんたんな人（ひと）です。(Sensei wa, kantan na hito desu.)

Correct:

先生（せんせい）は、やさしい人（ひと）です。(Sensei wa, yasashii hito desu.)

Why?

You cannot use かんたん (simple) for a personality unless you want to insult them (meaning “simple-minded”). To mean “kind,” always use やさしい.

Mistake 2: Requesting a “brief” explanation

A little different:

やさしく説明（せつめい）してください。(Yasashiku setsumei shite kudasai.)

*Please explain in easy words (so I can understand).

A little different:

かんたんに説明（せつめい）してください。(Kantan ni setsumei shite kudasai.)

*Please explain briefly/simply (just the main points).

Tip:

Both are correct, but the nuance is different. Do you want “easy words” (yasashiku) or “a short summary” (kantan ni)?

Practice Quiz

Let’s check your understanding! Choose the correct word for ( ).

Q1.

困（こま）っている時、友達（ともだち）が助（たす）けてくれました。彼（かれ）は ( ) です。

My friend helped me when I was in trouble. He is ( ).

1. かんたん (kantan)
2. やさしい (yasashii)

Q2.

このカレーは、３分（さんぷん）で作（つく）れます。とても ( ) です。

You can make this curry in 3 minutes. It is very ( ).

1. かんたん (kantan)
2. やさしい (yasashii)

Q3.

時間（じかん）がないので、( ) 話（はな）してください。

I have no time, so please speak ( ). (Briefly)

1. かんたんに (kantan ni)
2. やさしく (yasashiku)

Summary: Key Differences

It is easy to remember!

• やさしい (i-adjective): “Easy” (Not difficult) OR “Kind” (Nice person).
• かんたん (na-adjective): “Simple” (Not complicated) OR “Brief” (Short).

If you are talking about a **person**, usually use やさしい!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I use かんたん (kantan) for a person?

A1: No, you should not. If you say “He is a kantan person” (彼は簡単な人です), it sounds like you are saying he is “simple-minded” or “easy to trick.” To say someone is kind, use やさしい (yasashii).

Q2: What are the Kanji for やさしい?

A2: There are two different Kanji! 易しい means “easy” (not difficult). 優しい means “kind” (nice person). However, in N5/N4 levels, it is often written in Hiragana (やさしい) to cover both meanings.

Q3: Which one is better for “easy cooking”?

A3: Both are okay, but かんたん (kantan) is very common for recipes. “かんたんレシピ” (Simple recipe) means the steps are simple, short, and not complicated.

Related Articles

• The Difference Between 「静か (shizuka)」 and 「しずかな (shizuka na)」 (Adjective Grammar)
• How to Use i-Adjectives and na-Adjectives (The Complete Guide)