Easy & Difficult Actions in Korean || With 기 쉽다, 기 어렵다 & More

Q: How to form sentences with 기 쉽다 and 기 어렵다?

Remove the 다 from the verb stem, add -기 , and then attach 쉽다 or 어렵다 . Example : 이해하다 (to understand) → 이해하기 쉽다 (easy to understand)

Q: Can I use these expressions with adjectives or only verbs?

These expressions are only used with verbs , as they describe the ease or difficulty of performing an action .

Q: What are some other similar expressions I can use?

You can also use expressions like -기 힘들다 (hard to...), or idioms like -기가 수월하다 (comparatively easy to...) for more nuance.

Q: Can I study Korean with LTL Language School?

Yes! You can study with us in Seoul , in our Hongdae location , or online if you prefer learn from home. Contact us here if you have any questions.

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EASE AND DIFFICULTY IN KOREAN

In Korean, conveying whether an action is easy or difficult is a fundamental aspect of daily communication.

The grammatical structures -기 쉽다 and -기 어렵다 are essential tools for expressing these nuances.

-기 쉽다: EXPRESSING EASY ACTIONS

This structure translates to it is easy to… or it is simple to... It’s used to describe actions that are straightforward, uncomplicated, or readily achievable.

PATTERN

[Verb stem] + -기 쉽다

^{cheongsohagi swipda}

청소하기 쉽다

_{It’s easy to clean}

View More Examples:

설거지하기 쉽다	seolgeojihagi swipda	It’s easy to wash the dishes.
정리하기 쉽다	jeongnihagi swipda	It’s easy to organize.
빨래하기 쉽다	ppallaehagi swipda	It’s easy to do laundry.
요리하기 쉽다	yorihagi swipda	It’s easy to cook.

Nuances:
- This structure emphasizes the simplicity or accessibility of an action.
- It can also imply that the action requires minimal effort or skill.
- For example:

^{i sejeneun sayonghagi swiwoyo}

이 세제는 사용하기 쉬워요

_{This detergent is easy to use}

-기 어렵다: EXPRESSING DIFFICULT ACTIONS

This structure translates to it is difficult to… or it is hard to… It’s used to describe actions that are challenging, complicated, or require significant effort.

PATTERN

[Verb stem] + -기 어렵다

^{cheongsohagi eoryeopda}

청소하기 어렵다

_{It’s difficult to clean}

View More Examples:

수리하기 어렵다	surihagi eoryeopda	It’s difficult to repair.
고치기 어렵다	gochigi eoryeopda	It’s difficult to fix.
다림질하기 어렵다	darimjilhagi eoryeopda	It’s difficult to iron.
창문 닦기 어렵다	changmun dakgi eoryeopda	It is difficult to clean the windows.

Nuances:
- This structure highlights the challenges or complexities associated with an action.
- It can also imply that the action requires significant skill, effort, or time.
- For example:

^{i eollugeun jiugi eoryeowoyo}

이 얼룩은 지우기 어려워요

_{This stain is difficult to remove}

A DIALOGUE

Let’s illustrate these structures with a conversation between two friends, Ji-eun (left side) and Min-su (right side), discussing household chores:

View Dialogue

^{Min-suya, oneul jip cheongso jom dowajul su isseo?}

민수야, 오늘 집 청소 좀 도와줄 수 있어?

_{Min-su, can you help me clean the house today?}

^{Mulleon-iji, mwo-buteo halkka?}

물론이지. 뭐부터 할까?

_{Of course. What should we do first?}

^{Hwajangsil cheongso-neun na-hanteneun neomu eoryeowo. nega jom haejullae?}

화장실 청소는 나한테는 너무 어려워. 네가 좀 해줄래?

_{Cleaning the bathroom is really difficult for me. Can you do it?}

^{Eung, hwajangsil cheongso-neun naega halge. daesin, seolgeojineun nega haejul su isseo?}

응, 화장실 청소는 내가 할게. 대신, 설거지는 네가 해줄 수 있어?

_{Yeah, I’ll do the bathroom. But, can you do the dishes?}

^{Mulleon-iji. seolgeojineun na-hanteneun swiwo}

물론이지. 설거지는 나한테는 쉬워

_{Of course. Washing dishes is easy for me}

^{Joa. geurigo, changmun dakneun geon jom eoryeoul geot gateunde, gachi halkka?}

좋아. 그리고, 창문 닦는 건 좀 어려울 것 같은데, 같이 할까?

_{Okay. And, I think cleaning the windows will be a bit difficult. Shall we do it together?}

^{Eung, gachi hamyeon jom deo swipgetji. geurigo, meonji teolgi-neun cheongsogiro hamyeon swiwo}

응, 같이 하면 좀 더 쉽겠지. 그리고, 먼지 털기는 청소기로 하면 쉬워

_{Yes, if we do it together, it will be easier. And, dusting is easy if we use the vacuum cleaner}

^{Joa. geureom, ppalli kkeutnaego masinneun geo meokja}

좋아. 그럼, 빨리 끝내고 맛있는 거 먹자

_{Okay. Then, let’s finish quickly and eat something delicious}

Key Takeaways from the Dialogue:

Ji-eun expresses that cleaning the bathroom is difficult for her (-기 어렵다).
Min-su states that washing dishes is easy for Ji-eun (-기 쉽다).
They agree that cleaning windows is difficult, but doing it together will make it easier.
Dusting is easy when using a vacuum cleaner.

VOCABULARY AND USAGE

To enhance your understanding and usage of these structures, consider these points:

Context is crucial: The perceived ease or difficulty of an action can vary depending on individual skills, tools, and circumstances.
Adverbs can add nuance: Words like 너무 (neomu)(too), 좀 (jom) (a little), or 훨씬 (hwolssin)(much) can modify the degree of ease or difficulty.
Practice with various verbs: Use a wide range of verbs related to house chores and daily activities to solidify your understanding.

CONCLUSION

In essence, mastering -기 쉽다 and -기 어렵다 is vital for expressing ease and difficulty in Korean, especially when discussing household chores.

These structures enable nuanced communication about task complexity, enhancing clarity and cultural understanding.

Using them accurately improves daily interactions and fosters stronger connections by allowing you to precisely convey your experiences and perspectives.