便利 (べんり) vs 役に立つ
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 便利 (べんり)
Listen to 役に立つ
| 便利 (べんり) | 役に立つ |
|---|---|
ben-RI adjective (na-adjective) | やくにたつ adjective (na-adjective) |
| convenient; handy; useful in terms of ease or accessibility | useful; helpful; beneficial |
How they differ
役に立つ emphasizes that something is helpful or serves a purpose (it produces a useful effect), while 便利 stresses ease, handiness, or accessibility. Something can be 便利 without being particularly 役に立つ in a practical sense, and vice versa.
When to use each
When to use 便利 (べんり): Prefer 便利 when you want to highlight ease, handiness, or convenience of use or access.
When to use 役に立つ: Prefer 役に立つ when you want to emphasize that something is useful or helpful for achieving a specific goal.
Side-by-side examples
- スマホは非常に便利だ。
(Smartphones are extremely convenient.) - スマホは情報収集に役に立つ。
(Smartphones are useful for gathering information.)
Register & nuance: 役に立つ is neutral and widely used in both spoken and written Japanese; it emphasizes utility rather than convenience.