易しい (Yasashii — Easy) vs. 簡単 (Kantan — Simple) vs. 安い (Yasui — Cheap): Plus 優しい (Kind)!
Beginners constantly mix up 易しい (yasashii — easy), 優しい (yasashii — kind/gentle), 簡単 (kantan — simple), and 安い (yasui — cheap)! Learn the kanjis that make their meanings unmistakable.
Look at the two words pronounced やさしい (yasashii): 易しい means 'easy to understand or do' (synonym of 簡単 kantan, simple), while 優しい means 'kind, gentle, or tender-hearted' (and has a Person 亻 and a Heart 心 right inside the kanji!).
Quick Comparison: 易 (Easy) vs. 簡 (Simple/Easy) vs. 安 (Relax) vs. 場 (Location)
Compare 易 (Easy), 簡 (Simple), 安 (Cheap), and 場 (Place) below:
| Kanji & Meaning | Primary Readings (Bold = Primary) | Shibashi Visual Mnemonic Hook | Common Compound Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 易 — Easy | On: い, えき Kun: — |
日 (Sun) over 勿 (shifting sun rays / chameleon) = EASY / SIMPLE / TRADE (yasashii / i / eki). | 安易 (あんい) — easy; easygoing; simplistic |
| 簡 — Simple/Easy | On: かん Kun: — |
竹 (Bamboo slips on top) over 間 (Gate with Sun) = writing concisely on bamboo strips = SIMPLE / BRIEF (kan, as in 簡単 kantan). | 簡易 (かんい) — simplicity, easiness, sim... |
| 安 — Relax | On: あん Kun: やす |
宀 (Roof) over 女 (Woman) = CHEAP / INEXPENSIVE / SAFE (yasui / an). | 安い (やすい) — cheap |
| 場 — Location | On: じょう Kun: ば |
土 (Earth) + 易 (Sun rays over open ground) = PLACE / VENUE (ba / jō). | 工場 (こうじょう) — factory |
Side-by-Side Illustrated Kanji Flashcards (Tap Readings for Audio)
Compare the custom Shibashi artwork for 易 (Easy) and 簡 (Simple/Easy) below. Notice how each illustration embeds both the English meaning and the primary Japanese reading directly into the scene, and tap any reading to hear native pronunciation:
Step-by-Step Visual Breakdown & Radical Rules
Never confuse yasashii (易しい / 優しい) with yasui (安い) again:
1. 易 (Easy) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: い, えき | Kun'yomi: —
Shibashi Visual Story: “Even hard life is easy (い) when you start your day with an epic kimono (えき) prayer...” Key visual distinction: 日 (Sun) over 勿 (shifting sun rays / chameleon) = EASY / SIMPLE / TRADE (yasashii / i / eki).
2. 簡 (Simple/Easy) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: かん | Kun'yomi: —
Shibashi Visual Story: “Guns on the gate is a simple solution to protect the baby sun eating candy (かん)...” Key visual distinction: 竹 (Bamboo slips on top) over 間 (Gate with Sun) = writing concisely on bamboo strips = SIMPLE / BRIEF (kan, as in 簡単 kantan).
- 簡易 (かんい): simplicity, easiness, simple, convenient
- 簡便 (かんべん): simple and handy, convenient
- 簡明 (かんめい): concise, simple and clear
3. 安 (Relax) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: あん | Kun'yomi: やす
Shibashi Visual Story: “Ohh Yassss(u) (やす)!! Under (あん) a safe roof, the women can finally relax.” Key visual distinction: 宀 (Roof) over 女 (Woman) = CHEAP / INEXPENSIVE / SAFE (yasui / an).
4. 場 (Location) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: じょう | Kun'yomi: ば
Shibashi Visual Story: “The perfect jawline (じょう) buddha is in the the most badass (ば) location for a sunrise prayer.” Key visual distinction: 土 (Earth) + 易 (Sun rays over open ground) = PLACE / VENUE (ba / jō).
- 工場 (こうじょう): factory
- 売り場 (うりば): sales floor, sales counter
- 場所 (ばしょ): location
Essential Japanese Vocabulary Words Using 易 / 簡 / 安 / 場
Once you can recognize 易 (Easy) and 簡 (Simple/Easy) and 安 (Relax) individually, lock them into your active reading vocabulary with these high-frequency Japanese words from the Shibashi app:
| Japanese Word | Hiragana Reading | English Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 安易 | あんい | easy; easygoing; simplistic | JLPT |
| 交易 | こうえき | trade; commerce | JLPT |
| 平易 | へいい | plain; simple; easy | JLPT |
| 簡易 | かんい | simplicity, easiness, simple, convenient | JLPT |
| 簡便 | かんべん | simple and handy, convenient | JLPT |
| 簡明 | かんめい | concise, simple and clear | JLPT |
| 安い | やすい | cheap | JLPT |
| 安全 | あんぜん | safety | JLPT |
5-Second Memory Summary: How to Never Mix Up 易 & 簡 & 安 Again
1) 易しい (yasashii) / 簡単 (kantan) = Easy / Simple (problem, test, or task). 2) 優しい (yasashii — has 亻 Person + 心 Heart!) = Kind / Gentle person. 3) 安い (yasui — one syllable shorter!) = Cheap / Low price!
