![(Alt Text: Joy meeting a kind person [Yasashii] vs. Joy solving a simple problem [Kantan])](https://jplt-dialogplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gemini_Generated_Image_klvmpfklvmpfklvm.png)
(Alt Text: Joy meeting a kind person [Yasashii] vs. Joy solving a simple problem [Kantan])
“This test was easy.”
“He is an easy (kind) person.”
In Japanese, やさしい (Yasashii) and かんたん (Kantan) both mean “Easy.” But wait! One of them also means “Kind.” Let’s learn the difference with Joy and Ken!
🗣 Conversation Scene
Joy is talking about her new Japanese teacher.
Joy
新しい先生は、とても やさしい です。
説明（せつめい）も かんたん です！
(The new teacher is very “kind”. His explanations are also “simple/easy”!)
説明（せつめい）も かんたん です！
(The new teacher is very “kind”. His explanations are also “simple/easy”!)
Ken
それは良（よ）かったですね。
「やさしい」には2つの意味（いみ）がありますから、漢字（かんじ）に気（き）をつけてくださいね。
(That’s good. “Yasashii” has two meanings, so be careful with the Kanji.)
「やさしい」には2つの意味（いみ）がありますから、漢字（かんじ）に気（き）をつけてくださいね。
(That’s good. “Yasashii” has two meanings, so be careful with the Kanji.)
💡 Explanation
Check the Kanji and the grammar type (I-Adjective vs Na-Adjective).
Point 1: Yasashii (やさしい) = Kind OR Easy
This is an I-Adjective. It has two meanings depending on the context (and Kanji).
- 優しい (Yasashii) = Kind / Gentle
Example: 彼は 優しい 人です。
(He is a kind person.) - 易しい (Yasashii) = Easy (Not difficult)
Example: この問題（もんだい）は 易しい です。
(This problem is easy.)
Point 2: Kantan (かんたん) = Simple / Brief
This is a Na-Adjective (Kantan na). It means “not complicated” or “brief.”
- このスマホは 使い方が 簡単（かんたん）です。
(This smartphone is simple to use.) - 簡単（かんたん）に 説明（せつめい）します。
(I will explain briefly/simply.)
📊 Comparison Table
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
(Talking about a friend)
❌ Wrong: 彼は かんたんな 人です。
(This sounds rude! It means “He is a simple/uncomplicated person” or “He is easy to handle.”)
✅ Right: 彼は やさしい 人です。
(He is a kind/gentle person.)
🔥 Practice Quiz
Tap to check the answer!
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