N4-G-043
Verb ます-stem + やすいです (Easy to do [Verb])
Core / Expressing Ease of Action
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
This grammar pattern attaches to the verb stem (Masu-stem) to express that an action is easy, smooth, or comfortable to perform (e.g., easy to read, easy to use, easy to understand).
Structure: [Verb ます-stem] + やすいです
Example 1: この ペンは つかいやすいです (This pen is easy to use).
Example 2: せんせいの せつめいは わかりやすいです (The teacher’s explanation is easy to understand).
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
Functions as an い-adjective!
Once you attach yasui to a verb stem, the entire compound word behaves as a regular い-adjective! You can conjugate it into any standard い-adjective form:
– Polite Present: 使いやすいです (tsukaiyasui desu – is easy to use)
– Past Tense: 使いやすかったです (tsukaiyasukatta desu – was easy to use)
– Modifying Nouns: 使いやすい スマホ (tsukaiyasui sumaho – an easy-to-use smartphone)
– Negative Tense: 使いやすくないです (tsukaiyasukunai desu – is not easy to use)
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is praising a new Japanese textbook.
Joy: 「この きょうかしょは よみます やすいです。」
(Kono kyoukasho wa yomimasu yasui desu.)
❌ Forgot to drop “masu”!
Why?
Joy left the particle-like masu ending attached to yomimasu. When attaching yasui desu to verbs, you MUST drop masu completely to leave only the raw verb stem (yomi).
Correct: 「この きょうかしょは よみやすいです。」 (This textbook is easy to read.)
🔥 Layer C: Retrieval Practice Loop
Retrieve and apply! Express ease of action. (Hiragana and English only)
Level 1: Structure Building (Masu-stem + やすいです)
Q1. Easy to use (つかいます ➡️ つかいます)
Q2. Easy to read (よみます ➡️ よみます)
Q3. Easy to eat (たべます ➡️ たべます)
Q4. Easy to understand (わかります ➡️ わかります)
Q5. Easy to drink (のみます ➡️ のみます)
Level 2: Full Sentences
Q6. This pen is easy to use. (この ペン)
Q7. This book is easy to read. (この ほん)
Q8. This food was easy to eat. (この たべもの / Past tense)
Q9. The teacher’s explanation is easy to understand. (せんせいの せつめい)
Q10. This medicine is easy to drink. (この くすり)
