安い
やすい·yasui
Meaning
cheap; inexpensive; affordable
Nuance & Usage
安い is the opposite of 高い (takai — expensive) in the price sense. It is generally neutral or positive, meaning "affordable" or "reasonably priced." Common expressions: 安くする (yasuku suru — to make cheaper / give a discount), 安売り (yasuuri — a sale/bargain). Note: 安い also forms the suffix ~やすい (yasui) meaning "easy to do": 読みやすい (yomiyasui — easy to read) — same pronunciation but different meaning and kanji (易い).
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse the adjective 安い (cheap, kanji 安) with the verb suffix ~やすい (easy to ~, kanji 易). They sound the same but have entirely different meanings and grammar. Also, calling something 安い directly to a shopkeeper can sometimes sound blunt — a more tactful expression might be もう少し安くなりませんか？ (Could you make it a bit cheaper?).
Example Sentences (3)
このお店は安くておいしいです。
このおみせはやすくておいしいです。
This restaurant is cheap and delicious.
もう少し安いのはありますか？
もうすこしやすいのはありますか？
Do you have something a little cheaper?
セールで安く買えました。
せーるでやすくかえました。
I was able to buy it cheaply at the sale.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 安い with 4 different question types.
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