易しい
yasashii
If nothing snags, it's 易しい
The picture You put your hand to it and it slides all the way through with nothing catching. 易しい is sliding through without a catch; 難しい is a hand that catches and stalls.
Where the picture shows up in 易しい
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an easy test
このテストは易しかったです。
kono tesuto wa yasashikatta desu
This test was easy.
The answer sheet filled top to bottom in one pass, then the pen set down
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plain words
易しい言葉で説明してください。
yasashii kotoba de setsumei shi-te kudasai
Please explain it in simple words.
A hard word crossed out and three short ones written above it
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easy to operate
使い方は易しいので大丈夫です。
tsukai-kata wa yasashii node daijōbu desu
It's easy to use, so you'll be fine.
One button pressed to demonstrate, then the machine handed straight over
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easy to read
易しい本から読みましょう。
yasashii hon kara yomi-mashō
Let's start with an easy book.
The book with big type and wide margins pulled off the shelf first
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easy to say
言うのは易しいですが、やるのは大変です。
iu no wa yasashii desu ga, yaru no wa taihen desu
Saying it is easy, but doing it is hard.
Arms folded, instructions pouring out of the mouth while the hands never move once
This use comes from the set phrase 言うは易く行うは難し — 'saying is easy, doing is hard'. It is a different word from 優しい (kind), which sounds identical.
All of it in one picture
易しい is one picture: nothing to snag on. Nothing snags in a test and no question stopped you; nothing snags in the words and you get it first time; nothing snags in the controls and a first-timer can work it. Nothing snags in a book and you read to the end — and when the only place nothing snags is the mouth, saying it is 易しい while the doing is where it catches.