Page 126 - Makino,Tsutusi.DictionaryOfIntermediateJGrammar

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-gatai is used when it is virtually impossible for S.O. to do s.t. Thus, KS(A),
for example, is equivalent to (1).
(1) %&%$a, L72 z 2 li8*7kl/~,
(I /We cannot forgive his conduct.)

-gatai, -nikui, and -zurai express a similar idea, i.e., "difficulty in doing s.t:
However, their usage is significantly different. First, -gatai is usually used
only in written language or formal speech, but -nikui and -zurai can be used
both in spoken and written language. Second, unlike -gatai, -nikui and -zuraj
do not imply virtual impossibility. For example, in [I], where Mr. Yamad&
handwriting is hard, but not impossible, to read, -nikui and -zurai can be used
but -gatai cannot.

[I] ;i;a~~%$a,+~&d;r {c;< L\ /~%L\/*~P~LL\I,
(Yamada's handwriting (lit. characters) is hard to read.)
Third, while -gatai and -zurai can be used only with verbs which require an
agent, -nikui can be used with verbs which do not require an agent, as in [2].

b. ~%$a,$lik~ {I:< L\ /*3%L\ /*WTLL\IO
(This wood doesn't burn easily.)
(d -nikui (DBJG: 307-08))
Fourth, -zurai is used when doing s.t. is physically (sometimes psychologi-
cally) hard on the agent. Thus, -zurai always describes undesirable situa-
tions, as in [3].

b. &75'~~\o>~~~~xt-+~&4 {35L\/ C;< L\ /*~P"~Lc\]~
(Because I have bad teeth, tough steaks are hard to eat.)