Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "容易", "容易な", "〜やすい", "手軽"
All represent the core concept "easy", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
容易
ようい (yōi)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
容易な
よういな (yōi na)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
〜やすい
〜やすい (yasui)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
手軽
てがる (tegaru)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "easy" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "容易", "容易な", "〜やすい", "手軽" based on context.
- 容易 (ようい (yōi) - Level: N3): Maps to "easy, simple, light (na-adjective)" and is used when 物事を行うのが簡単であること、または困難なく進められる状態を表します。「簡単」や「やさしい」よりもやや硬い表現で、書き言葉やフォーマルな文脈で使われることが多いです。.
- 容易な (よういな (yōi na) - Level: N3): Maps to "easy, simple" and is used when Indicates that something is not difficult to do or understand. Often used in formal or slightly more objective contexts than '簡単な'..
- 〜やすい (〜やすい (yasui) - Level: N3): Maps to "easy to do; prone to; apt to" and is used when Indicates that an action is easy to perform or that something has a tendency to occur. It is attached to the masu-stem.
- 手軽 (てがる (tegaru) - Level: N2): Maps to "easy; simple; light; casual; handy" and is used when Often used as an な-adjective.
Context for "容易"
この問題は私にとって非常に容易です。
This problem is very easy for me.
Context for "容易な"
この問題は私にとって非常に容易だった。
This problem was very easy for me.
Context for "〜やすい"
このコップは割れやすい。
This glass breaks easily.
Context for "手軽"
手軽に作れるランチレシピを探している。
I'm looking for an easy-to-make lunch recipe.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この問題は私にとって非常に ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "This problem is very easy for me.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "容易" is correct here because it represents "easy, simple, light (na-adjective)" in the context: "This problem is very easy for me.".