Difference between 便利/不便 and 都合がいい/悪い


These word pairs both seem to mean "Convenient/Inconvenient". But what is the
difference between them and usage cases?

From looking at their kanji and a few example sentences, this is what I've
come up with. Is this correct?

  * 便利/不便: A physical object is convenient. e.g., "This tool is convenient"
  * 都合がいい/悪い: A situation is convenient. e.g., "That day is convenient"




都合 means more like circumstances or condition. 都合がいい would literally translate
to the circumstances are favorable (on a particular day), which makes the
meaning of "that day is convenient (favorable) for me".

便利 (as suggested by its kanjis, 便 - convenience; and 利 - profit, benefit)
means advantageous/profitable convenience, i.e. useful or handy. A situation
will be favorable and an object would be convenient.

So looking at your examples, they seem correct.




都合 means more like circumstances or condition. 都合がいい would literally translate
to the circumstances are favorable (on a particular day), which makes the
meaning of "that day is convenient (favorable) for me".

便利 (as suggested by its kanjis, 便 - convenience; and 利 - profit, benefit)
means advantageous/profitable convenience, i.e. useful or handy. A situation
will be favorable and an object would be convenient.

So looking at your examples, they seem correct.

