What it means
にくい attaches to the masu-stem of a verb and means that doing something is difficult, awkward, or not easy. It describes difficulty related to the action itself, such as an object being hard to carry, read, or use. The polite version adds です after にくい, while the familiar version ends with にくい.
Usage note
にくい describes difficulty in carrying out an action and is not usually used simply to mean that someone does not want to do it. Attach it to the verb's masu-stem, not to the dictionary form.
How to use it
この箱は持ちにくいです。
This box is difficult to carry.
この箱は持ちにくい。
This box is difficult to carry.
Example sentences
この小さい字は暗い場所では読みにくいです。
These small letters are difficult to read in dark places.
この重い箱は一人では運びにくいです。
This heavy box is difficult to carry alone.
この説明書は言葉が難しくて、使いにくいです。
This instruction manual is difficult to use because the language is difficult.