JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
2. 〜にくい
3. 〜づらい
4. 〜がたい
5. Let’s Compare
6. Various usage patterns
7. Summary
8. Quiz
9. Similar Articles
10. Comments

Q: What are the differences between “〜にくい”・”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”?

A: All three convey meanings of “difficult,” “challenging,” or “impossible.” However, using them correctly is crucial for effective communication. Let’s first understand the meanings and key points of each.

〜にくい (JLPT N4)

[Meaning ①]
It is difficult/challenging to do so.

[Point]
It is used when there is a specific cause, and as a result, it is difficult for the speaker to do something

[Rule]　
[N] Volitional Verb Stem form＋にくい

[Examples]
このおかしは固かたくて食たべにくいです。
This sweet is hard and difficult to eat.
⇒ It is difficult to eat because it is hard.

この説明せつめいは複雑ふくざつでわかりにくいです。
This explanation is complicated and hard to understand.
⇒ It is difficult to understand because it is complicated.

[Meaning ②]
It indicates that the possibility of something happening is low, or that it does not easily happen.

[Point]
It is used to describe the properties or durability of an object

[Rule]　
[N] Non-Volitional Verb Stem form + にくい

[Examples]
このおかしはカロリーが低ひくくて太ふとりにくいです。
These sweets have low calories and are unlikely to cause weight gain.
⇒ Since it is low in calories, there is a low possibility of gaining weight even if you eat it.

このおはしは丈夫じょうぶで折おれにくいです。
These chopsticks are sturdy and resistant to breaking.
⇒This sentence communicates that the object’s durability makes it less likely to break.

〜づらい (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
It is difficult/challenging to do so.

[Point]
It is used when the speaker feels it is difficult to do something for physical, ability-related, or psychological reasons.
It can also be used to express a feeling of awkwardness or reluctance, such as feeling sorry or hesitant toward others.

[Rule]　
[N] Volitional Verb Stem form + づらい

[Examples]
<Physical>　足あしが痛いたくて走はしりづらいです。
My feet hurt, making it difficult to run.
⇒ It means that running is physically difficult because of the pain.

<Psychological>　みんな残業ざんぎょうしていて帰かえりづらいです。
It’s hard to leave when everyone is working overtime.
⇒ It expresses that the speaker finds it psychologically difficult to leave, considering others.

〜がたい (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
A state where the degree of something is so great that, although the speaker wants to do it, they cannot actually do so

[Point]
・It is not used for inability based on ability or skill.
・It is a somewhat formal expression and is often used in serious or abstract contexts.
・The verbs it can be used with are limited.

[Rule]　
[N] Verbs expressing emotions or statements in the Stem form + がたい

[Examples]
彼かれの話はなしが本当ほんとうか信しんじがたいです。
His story is hard to believe.
⇒ The speaker wants to believe his story, but it is too strange to believe.

この話はなしについてはなんとも言いいがたいですね。
It’s hard to say anything about this story.
⇒ The speaker has something they want to say, but cannot express it.

Let’s Compare

Here, “〜にくい” “〜づらい” “〜がたい” may seem similar, but their meanings and usage differ slightly.
Let’s use the same verb to clearly see the differences.

[Examples]　食たべます
このおかしは固かたくて食たべにくいです。
This sweets is hard and difficult to eat.
⇒ There is a cause—the sweet is hard—and as a result, it is difficult for the speaker to eat.

歯はが痛いたくておかしが食たべづらいです。
My tooth hurts, making it difficult to eat sweets.
⇒ The speaker feels it is difficult to eat due to a physical reason, namely tooth pain.
　 In addition, because the pain is consciously felt, a psychological sense of discomfort is also included.

早はやくごはんを食たべたいけど、まだ誰だれも食たべ始はじめていないから食たべづらいな。
I want to eat, but it’s awkward because no one has started eating yet.
⇒ Although the speaker wants to eat, they feel psychologically hesitant because of the surrounding situation.

このおかし、食たべがたいな。
⇒ The verb eat does not express a mental state or speech.
　 Therefore, 「〜がたい」 cannot be used in this case.

Various usage patterns

Cases where both “〜にくい” and “〜づらい” can be used

In the following examples, both “〜にくい” and “〜づらい” are possible.
However, the nuance they convey is slightly different.

仕事しごとを辞やめたいけど、言いいにくいです。
仕事しごとを辞やめたいけど、言いいづらいです。
I want to quit my job, but it’s hard to say.

いま会議かいぎ中ちゅうだしトイレへ行いきにくいです。
いま会議かいぎ中ちゅうだしトイレへ行いきづらいです。
I’m in a meeting right now, so it’s difficult to go to the bathroom.

As shown in these examples, when the speaker feels it is difficult psychologically, “〜づらい” is used.
And when the reason is an external factor—such as a superior, people around you, or the situation—“〜にくい” is used.

Only “〜にくい” can describe an object’s properties or durability

このコップはステンレスで、飲のみ物ものが冷さめにくいです。
This cup is made of stainless steel, so it doesn’t cool drinks easily.
⇒ Because of the material property of stainless steel, the possibility that the drink will cool down is low.

この紙かみは濡ぬれても破やぶれにくいです。
This paper is difficult to tear even when wet.
⇒ While ordinary paper tears when it gets wet, this paper has high durability, meaning the possibility of tearing is low.

Verbs expressing mental states or speech + がたい

Compared to the other two expressions, “〜がたい” is characterized by the limited types of verbs it can be used with.
It is mainly used with verbs that express mental states or speech.
In addition, the number of verbs commonly used with “〜がたい” is not large, so it is best to learn them as set, idiomatic phrases.

[Commonly used Verbs]
Verbs expressing emotions and feelings : 信しんじる(believe), 想像そうぞうする(imagine), 受け入う　いれる(accept), 許ゆるす(forgive), 理解りかいする(understand)
Verbs expressing utterances like : 言いう(say), 話はなす(speak)

Verbs Expressing Mental States or Utterances ＋ にくい・づらい・がたい

The verbs introduced above can actually be used with all three expressions: “〜にくい,” “〜づらい,” and “〜がたい.”
However, the key nuance differs for each one.
Let’s compare them using the same verb.

[Example]　想像そうぞうする
そんなに情報じょうほうが少すくないと、想像そうぞうしにくいよ。
It’s hard to imagine with so little information.
⇒ Because there is very little information, the speaker finds it difficult to imagine.

ちょっとわたしには想像そうぞうしづらいです。
I find it a bit hard to imagine.
⇒ This expresses that, based on the speaker’s ability or personal sense, imagining it is difficult.

このまま温暖おんだん化かが進すすめば、明あかるい未来みらいは想像そうぞうしがたいです。
If global warming continues like this, it’s hard to imagine a bright future.
⇒ This expresses that the situation is so serious that, although the speaker wants to imagine a bright future, they cannot do so.

Summary

[〜にくい]

• It is used when there is a cause or condition, and something is objectively difficult.
• The reason is often the state of an object, the environment, or the situation.
• It can also describe an object’s properties, durability, or low likelihood.

[〜づらい]

• It is used when the speaker feels something is difficult for psychological, physical, or ability-related reasons.
• Feelings such as awkwardness, hesitation, or consideration for others are strongly involved.
• The focus is on the speaker’s subjective perception rather than objective facts.

[〜がたい]

• It is used when the speaker wants to do something, but the degree is too great to actually do it.
• It is limited to verbs that express mental states or speech.
• It is a somewhat formal expression, often used in serious or abstract contexts.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

---