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Not difficult to (imagine/understand)
Definition
The grammar pattern "V-辞書形 / N + にかたくない" is used to express that one can easily infer or imagine a situation or someone's feelings. It is a formal expression and is often used with verbs like 想像する (imagine), 察する (surmise), or 理解する (understand). This pattern is used to convey a sense of ease or simplicity in understanding or imagining something. It is not used to express physical difficulty or hardness, but rather a mental or emotional understanding.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb in dictionary form | V-辞書形 / N + にかたくない | 想像する / その過去の経験に想像することができる |
| Verb in dictionary form with a noun | V-辞書形 + N + にかたくない | 察する / その表情に察することができる |
| Verb in dictionary form with a noun and a location | V-辞書形 + N + にかたくない + どこ | 理解する / その文章に理解することができるどこ |
Examples
長年連れ添った伴侶を亡くした彼の悲しみは、想像することができる。
Chōnen tsurerareta aibō o nakushita kare no kanashimi wa, sozo suru koto ga dekiru.
It is easy to imagine his sorrow after losing his long-time partner.
想像することができる (can be imagined)
彼がどれほどの努力を重ねてきたかは、その成果を見れば想像することができる。
Kare ga dore hodo no doryoku o tsukamete kita ka wa, sono seika o miteba sozo suru koto ga dekiru.
It is easy to imagine how much effort he put in, by looking at the results.
想像することができる (can be imagined)
経済危機の影響で、中小企業が苦境に立たされていることは想像することができる。
Keizai kiki no eikō de, chūshō kigyo ga kusōkei ni tataimasu no koto wa sozo suru koto ga dekiru.
It is easy to imagine how the economic crisis has affected small and medium-sized enterprises.
想像することができる (can be imagined)
Context
This pattern is used in formal writing and speaking to express a sense of ease or simplicity in understanding or imagining something. It is often used in academic or professional settings. Be careful not to confuse it with ～がたい (difficult to...), which has a different meaning.
Watch out
This is a mistake because '食べる' is a verb that describes a physical action, not a mental process. The correct pattern is '食べることができる'.
This is a mistake because 'かたくない' is not used to express physical hardness, but rather a mental or emotional understanding. The correct pattern is 'その表情に想像することができる'.
This is a mistake because 'かたくない' is not used to express difficulty, but rather a sense of ease or simplicity. The correct pattern is 'その文章に理解することができる'.
Strategy
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, be careful to choose the correct verb and noun to use with 'かたくない'. Make sure to understand the meaning of the pattern and use it correctly in context.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N1 test-style questions. Each sentence shows V-辞書形 / N + にかたくない used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
長年連れ添った伴侶を亡くした彼の悲しみは、想像に難くない。
Pattern used: 想像に難くない
'想像に難くない' is the standard N1 expression for 'it's easy to imagine' someone's deep emotions.
彼がどれほどの努力を重ねてきたかは、その成果を見れば察するに難くない。
Pattern used: 察するに難くない
'察するに難くない' implies that the effort can be easily inferred from the visible results.
経済危機の影響で、中小企業が苦境に立たされていることは理解に難くない。
Pattern used: 理解に難くない
Uses the formal 'に難くない' to express that a situation is logically easy to understand.
Interactive
長年連れ添った伴侶を亡くした彼の悲しみは、______。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.