Yasui is the Japanese word for ‘cheap’, explained

What does “yasui” mean in Japanese?

When native speakers use “yasui” as an individual word, it normally means ‘cheap’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “yasui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “yasui”
  • Example #1: how to say “cheap” in Japanese
• Yasukunai: the nai form of “yasui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not cheap” in Japanese
• Yasukatta: the ta form of “yasui”
  • Example #3: how to say “was cheap” in Japanese
• Yasukute: the te form of “yasui”
  • Example #4: how to say “cheap and” in Japanese
• Yasukereba: the ba form of “yasui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if cheap” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “yasui”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “yasui”.

• yasui – 安い (やすい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cheap’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something cheap in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are very simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “cheap” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “katana” to say “this sword” in Japanese.
• katana – 刀 (かたな) : a noun meaning ‘sword’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono katana” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “yasui”. In the example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “kono yasui katana” to mean ‘this cheap sword’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘cheap’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “yasui” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “yasukunai”.

Yasukunai: the nai form of “yasui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “yasukunai”.

• yasukunai – 安くない (やすくない) : the nai form of “yasui”, which means ‘not cheap’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yasukunai” consists of the following two parts:

• yasuku – 安く (やすく) : one conjugation of “yasui”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yasukunai” is literally the nai form of “yasui” and means ‘not cheap’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not cheap” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kare” to make its possessive case, “kare no”, which means ‘his’ in Japanese.
• kuruma – 車 (くるま) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “yasukunai”. When we want to say “not cheap” in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Yasukatta: the ta form of “yasui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “yasukatta”.

• yasukatta – 安かった (やすかった) : the ta form of “yasui”, which means ‘was cheap’ or ‘were cheap’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yasukatta” consists of the following two parts:

• yasukat – 安かっ (やすかっ) : one conjugation of “yasui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yasukatta” is literally the ta form of “yasui” and means ‘was cheap’ or ‘were cheap’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was cheap” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• kiiroi – 黄色い (きいろい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘yellow’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “yasukatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “yasui”, this ta form is the best option.

Yasukute: the te form of “yasui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “yasukute”.

• yasukute – 安くて (やすくて) : the te form of “yasui”, which means ‘cheap’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yasukute” consists of the following two parts:

• yasuku – 安く (やすく) : one conjugation of “yasui”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yasukute” is literally the te form of “yasui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “yasukute” is very useful when we want to use “yasui” in front of another adjective or a verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “cheap and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• suika – 西瓜 (すいか) : a noun meaning ‘watermelon’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• oishii – 美味しい (おいしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘delicious’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “yasukute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “oishii”. When we want to use “yasui” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Yasukereba: the ba form of “yasui”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “yasukereba”.

• yasukereba – 安ければ (やすければ) : the ba form of “yasui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘cheap’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “yasukereba” consists of the following two parts:

• yasukere – 安けれ (やすけれ) : one conjugation of “yasui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “yasukereba” is literally the ba form of “yasui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “yasukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cheap’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if cheap” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ie – 家 (いえ) : a noun meaning ‘home’ or ‘house’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kono ie” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• sugu – すぐ : an adverb meaning ‘soon’, ‘quickly’, ‘immediately’, or such in Japanese.
• kai – 買い (かい) : one conjugation of the verb, “kau“, which means ‘to buy’ or ‘to purchase’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form. In the example, this is used after “kai” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “yasukereba”. In the example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kono ie ga yasukereba”, which means ‘if this house is cheap’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘cheap’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “yasui” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• yasui – 安い (やすい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cheap’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• yasukunai – 安くない (やすくない) : the nai form of “yasui”, which means ‘not cheap’ in Japanese.
• yasukatta – 安かった (やすかった) : the ta form of “yasui”, which means ‘was cheap’ or ‘were cheap’ in Japanese.
• yasukute – 安くて (やすくて) : the te form of “yasui”, which means ‘cheap’ in Japanese. When we want to use “yasui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• yasukereba – 安ければ (やすければ) : the ba form of “yasui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘cheap’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.