にかたくない・に難くない (nikatakunai ni kunai)

Meaning & usage

に難くない is a formal written expression meaning something is not hard to do, used almost exclusively with verbs of mental activity like 想像する or 推測する. It attaches to the masu-stem of such verbs, as in 想像にかたくない, and typically appears in sentences stating that something can easily be imagined or surmised.

Example sentences 4

1. 彼かれがその知しらせを聞きいて落胆らくたんしたことは想像そうぞうにかたくない。

   It is not hard to imagine how discouraged he was when he heard the news.

2. 長年の研究が実を結んだ時の喜びは推測にかたくない。

   One can readily surmise the joy of seeing years of research finally bear fruit.

3. 急な解雇通告を受けた彼女の動揺は想像に難くない。

   It is easy to imagine how shaken she was by the sudden notice of dismissal.

4. 住民が計画変更に強く反対したことは察するにかたくない。

   It is not difficult to infer that residents strongly opposed the change to the plan.