As in English, Japanese adjectives<\/a> come before the noun they\u2019re describing. Think: bright<\/em> lights, tall<\/em> buildings or\u00a0expensive<\/em> food.<\/p>\n There are two types of Japanese adjectives: \u3044-adjectives and \u306a-adjectives. Except one, all \u3044-adjectives and \u306a-adjectives follow the same set of rules, so learning them is a cinch!<\/p>\n In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Japanese adjective conjugation<\/strong> so you can start using them confidently.<\/p>\n [fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u9ad8\u3044<\/strong> (\u305f\u304b\u3044) \u2014 high, tall, expensive \u307e\u305a\u3044<\/strong> \u2014 awkward, untimely, unpleasant \u3044-Adjectives (also called \u201cTrue Adjectives\u201d or \u201cPure Adjectives\u201d) are adjectives that end in the kana<\/em> character \u3044.<\/p>\n Note that not every adjective that ends in \u3044\u00a0is an \u3044-adjective, but we\u2019ll learn more about that in just a bit. Some examples of \u3044-adjectives are:<\/p>\n \u901f\u3044<\/strong> (\u306f\u3084\u3044) \u2014 fast<\/p>\n \u5bd2\u3044<\/strong> (\u3055\u3080\u3044) \u2014 cold<\/p>\n \u7518\u3044<\/strong> (\u3042\u307e\u3044) \u2014 sweet<\/p>\n \u3044-adjectives come directly before the noun they\u2019re describing,<\/strong> as you can see below:<\/p>\n \u5f7c\u5973\u306f\u901f\u3044<\/strong>\u8d70\u8005\u3060\u3002 \u7518\u3044<\/strong>\u98df\u3079\u7269\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3060\u3088\u3002 They can also be used alone,<\/strong> without a noun proceeding them:<\/p>\n \u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u5c11\u3057\u5bd2\u3044<\/strong>\u306d\u3002 \u901f\u3044<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002 When conjugated, the character \u3044\u00a0is dropped and replaced with another ending.<\/strong><\/p>\n As an example, let\u2019s look at the adjective \u5b89\u3044<\/strong> (\u3084\u3059\u3044) \u2014 cheap.<\/p>\n\n Here are two examples of \u3044-adjectives in the past tense:<\/p>\n \u30ab\u30e1\u30e9\u306f\u5b89\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/strong> \u6628\u65e5\u3001\u5916\u306f\u5bd2\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f \u306a-adjectives are also called “Quasi Adjectives” or “Adjectival-Nouns.” These adjectives end in all sorts of characters, including \u3044.<\/p>\n Some examples of \u306a-adjectives are:<\/p>\n \u304d\u308c\u3044<\/strong> \u2014 pretty, clean<\/p>\n \u5143\u6c17<\/strong> (\u3052\u3093\u304d) \u2014 healthy, lively<\/p>\n \u00a0\u597d\u304d<\/strong> (\u3059\u304d) \u2014 like<\/p>\n Note that “like” in Japanese is an adjective, rather than a verb. Think of it as saying something is \u201cfavorable\u201d or \u201cdesirable.\u201d<\/p>\n The character \u306a\u00a0is always placed between \u306a-adjectives and nouns.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u597d\u304d\u306a<\/strong>\u6599\u7406 \u5f7c\u306f\u5143\u6c17\u306a<\/strong>\u5b50\u4f9b\u3067\u3059\u306d\u3002 The character \u306a\u00a0can be dropped if no noun proceeds the adjective.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u6d74\u5ba4\u306f\u304d\u308c\u3044<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f \u597d\u304d<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3002 If you know how to conjugate \u3067\u3059, then you already know how to conjugate \u306a-adjectives.<\/p>\n \u306a-adjectives can’t be conjugated alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead, their tenses are indicated by conjugating \u3067\u3059.<\/p>\n For example, if you wanted to say something was<\/em>\u00a0convenient, you’d take the adjective\u00a0convenient,<\/em>\u00a0\u4fbf\u5229<\/strong> (\u3079\u3093\u308a),\u00a0and use the past form of \u3067\u3059\u00a0to create:<\/p>\n \u4fbf\u5229\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/strong> (\u3079\u3093\u308a\u3067\u3057\u305f) \u2014 was convenient<\/p>\n\n Some other examples are:<\/p>\n \u304d\u308c\u3044\u3067\u3057\u305f \u304a\u597d\u307f\u713c\u304d\u306f\u597d\u304d\u306a\u6599\u7406\u3060\u3063\u305f<\/strong> \u9762\u767d\u3044<\/strong> (\u304a\u3082\u3057\u308d\u3044) \u2014 interesting \u4fbf\u5229<\/strong> (\u3079\u3093\u308a) \u2014 convenient \u5927\u304d\u306a\u6728<\/strong> (\u304a\u304a\u304d\u306a \u304d) \u2014 big tree Other than in songs, poetry and expressions, you won’t see \u3044-adjectives take the form of \u306a-adjectives\u2014but it’s good to be aware.<\/p>\n Japan’s lonesome irregular adjective is \u3044\u3044.<\/p>\n \u3044\u3044\u00a0is an \u3044-adjective that means \u201cgood.\u201d It’s derived from the word \u826f\u3044 (\u3088\u3044), meaning\u00a0good.<\/em><\/p>\n \u3044\u3044 appears in hiragana<\/em>, while \u826f\u3044 is usually written in kanji<\/em>.\u00a0\u3044\u3044 doesn’t conjugate, while \u826f\u3044 follows \u3044-adjective\u2019s conjugation rules:<\/p>\n\n The meaning between the two words changes slightly when conjugated.<\/p>\n \u826f\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059<\/strong> (\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059) would literally mean\u00a0“<\/em>It was good,” but usually expresses that \u201csomething turned out all right,\u201d or is used to say \u201cthank goodness.\u201d<\/p>\n In Japanese, a suffix is added to a verb or adjective to change its meaning.<\/p>\n For example, by adding the suffix -\u304f\u3066\u305f\u307e\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/strong> (unbearably) to the adjective hot,<\/em>\u00a0\u6691\u3044<\/strong> (\u3042\u3064\u3044), you\u2019ll get:<\/p>\n \u6691\u304f\u3066\u305f\u307e\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/strong> Many suffixes that are used with verbs can be used with adjectives. Now that you know some adjectives, it\u2019s time to dress them up and really express yourself:<\/p>\n Rules:<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n For \u306a-adjectives, omit \u3067\u3059.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u6691\u904e\u304e\u308b<\/strong>\u3002 \u79c1\u306e\u30d5\u30e9\u30f3\u30b9\u8a9e\u306f\u4e0b\u624b\u904e\u304e\u308b<\/strong>\u3002 Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n An \u3044-adjective turns into a \u306a-adjective when you add \u305d\u3046 to it.<\/p>\n For \u306a-adjectives, omit \u3067\u3059.<\/p>\n \u3044\u3044 becomes \u826f\u3055\u305d\u3046 (\u3088\u3055\u305d\u3046).<\/p>\n \u306a\u3044 (negative form)\u00a0becomes \u306a\u3055\u305d\u3046.<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n \u5f7c\u5973\u306f\u9ad8\u305d\u3046\u306a<\/strong>\u30c9\u30ec\u30b9\u3092\u7740\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3002 \u8abf\u5b50\u304c\u826f\u304f\u306a\u3055\u305d\u3046<\/strong>\u3067\u3059\u3088\u3002 Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n For \u306a-adjectives, omit \u3067\u3059.<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n \u660e\u65e5\u306f\u5bd2\u304f\u306a\u308b<\/strong>\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002 \u98f2\u307f\u3084\u3059\u304f\u306a\u308b<\/strong>\u3002 This adds a degree or quality to an adjective.<\/p>\n Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n \u306a-adjectives don\u2019t often use this ending with some exceptions including (but not limited to):<\/p>\n \u4fbf\u5229\u3055 (\u3079\u3093\u308a\u3055) \u2014 convenience<\/p>\n \u91cd\u8981\u3055 (\u3058\u3085\u3046\u3088\u3046\u3055) \u2014 importance<\/p>\n \u9759\u304b\u3055 (\u3057\u305a\u304b\u3055) \u2014 peacefulness<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n \u512a\u3057\u3055<\/strong>\u3068\u5f31\u3055<\/strong>\u3092\u6df7\u540c\u3059\u308b\u306a\u304b\u308c\u3002 \u79c1\u306f\u30db\u30c6\u30eb\u306e\u5feb\u9069\u3055<\/strong>\u3068\u4fbf\u5229\u3055<\/strong>\u3092\u697d\u3057\u3080\u306e\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3088\u3002 Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n For \u306a-adjectives, omit \u3067\u3059 and then add \u306a\u3089\u3070\u00a0or \u3067\u3042\u308c\u3070.<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n \u71b1\u3051\u308c\u3070<\/strong>\u3001\u51b7\u307e\u3057\u3066\u98f2\u307f\u306a\u3055\u3044\u3002 \u660e\u65e5\u6687\u3067\u3042\u308c\u3070<\/strong>\u3001\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046\u306d\u3002 Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n For \u3044-adjectives, drop the final \u3044.<\/p>\n For \u306a-adjectives, use \u3067\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070.<\/p>\n Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n \u305d\u308c\u304c\u304a\u3044\u3057\u304f\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070<\/strong>\u3001\u98df\u3079\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002 \u75c5\u6c17\u3067\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070<\/strong>\u3001\u5f7c\u306f\u6765\u308b\u3060\u308d\u3046\u3002 <\/p>\n Like most people, I rely on repetition to memorize new vocabulary and grammar<\/a>. So practice as much as possible.<\/p>\n You can also find and practice countless useful adjectives in Japanese media, such as movies and dramas. There’s also the language learning program FluentU<\/a>, which uses native Japanese videos to teach the language in context. FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n Which Japanese Adjectives Should You Learn First?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\u77ed\u3044<\/strong> (\u307f\u3058\u304b\u3044) \u2014 short
\n\u9045\u3044<\/strong> (\u304a\u305d\u3044) \u2014 late, slow<\/p>\n\n
\n\u30ad\u30e2\u3044<\/strong> (\u304d\u3082\u3044) \u2014 gross, disgusting
\n\u7c8b<\/strong> (\u3044\u304d) \u2014 stylish, chic<\/p>\nHow to Conjugate \u3044-Adjectives<\/h2>\n
\n(\u304b\u306e\u3058\u3087\u306f \u306f\u3084\u3044 \u305d\u3046\u3057\u3083\u3060\u3002)
\nShe’s a f<\/em>ast<\/em> runner.<\/p>\n
\n(\u3042\u307e\u3044 \u305f\u3079\u3082\u306e\u304c \u3059\u304d\u3060\u3088\u3002)
\nI love sweet<\/em> food.<\/p>\n
\n(\u304d\u3087\u3046\u306f \u3059\u3053\u3057 \u3055\u3080\u3044\u306d\u3002)
\nToday is a bit cold.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n(\u306f\u3084\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nIt\u2019s fast.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n
\n\t \nTense<\/th> Casual<\/th> Normal - Polite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Present<\/td> \u5b89\u3044
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u3044<\/td>\u5b89\u3044\u3067\u3059
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u3044\u3067\u3059<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Past<\/td> \u5b89\u304b\u3063\u305f
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/td>\u5b89\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Negative<\/td> \u5b89\u304f\u306a\u3044
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/td>\u5b89\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Past Negative<\/td> \u5b89\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/td>\u5b89\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f
\n
\n\u3084\u3059\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
\n(\u304b\u3081\u3089\u306f\u3084\u3059\u304b\u3063\u305f)
\nThe camera was cheap<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>(\u304d\u306e\u3046\u3001\u305d\u3068\u306f \u3055\u3080\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f)
\nIt wasn’t cold outside yesterday<\/p>\nHow to Conjugate \u306a-Adjectives<\/h2>\n
\n(\u3059\u304d\u306a \u308a\u3087\u3046\u308a)
\nA favorite<\/em> dish<\/p>\n
\n(\u304b\u308c\u306f \u3052\u3093\u304d\u306a \u3053\u3069\u3082\u3067\u3059\u306d\u3002)
\nHe\u2019s a lively<\/em> child.<\/p>\n
\n(\u3088\u304f\u3057\u3064\u306f \u304d\u308c\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f)
\nIs the bath clean<\/em>?<\/p>\n
\n(\u3059\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002)
\nI like<\/em> it.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n\t \nTense<\/th> Casual<\/th> Normal - Polite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Present<\/td> \u3060<\/td> \u3067\u3059<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Past<\/td> \u3060\u3063\u305f<\/td> \u3067\u3057\u305f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Negative<\/td> \u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044<\/td> \u3067\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Past Negative<\/td> \u3067\u306f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/td> \u3067\u306f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
\n<\/strong>It was clean<\/p>\n
\n(\u304a\u3053\u306e\u307f\u3084\u304d\u306f \u3059\u304d\u306a \u308a\u3087\u3046\u308a\u3060\u3063\u305f)
\nOkonomiyaki<\/em> was (my) favorite dish<\/p>\nHow to Distinguish Between \u3044-Adjectives and \u306a-Adjectives in Japanese<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\u65b0\u3057\u3044<\/strong> (\u3042\u305f\u3089\u3057\u3044) \u2014 new
\n\u697d\u3057\u3044<\/strong> (\u305f\u306e\u3057\u3044) \u2014 fun<\/p>\n\n
\n\u9759\u304b<\/strong> (\u3057\u305a\u304b) \u2014 quiet
\n\u6709\u540d<\/strong> (\u3086\u3046\u3081\u3044) \u2014 famous<\/p>\n\n
\n\u5c0f\u3055\u306a\u30ab\u30c3\u30d7<\/strong> (\u3061\u3044\u3055\u306a \u304b\u3063\u3077) \u2014 tiny cup<\/p>\n\u3044\u3044: The Only Irregular Adjective in Japanese<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n\t \nTense<\/th> Casual<\/th> Normal - Polite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Present<\/td> \u826f\u3044
\n(\u3088\u3044)<\/td>\u826f\u3044\u3067\u3059
\n(\u3088\u3044\u3067\u3059)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Past<\/td> \u826f\u304b\u3063\u305f
\n(\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f)<\/td>\u826f\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059
\n(\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Negative<\/td> \u826f\u304f\u306a\u3044
\n(\u3088\u304f\u306a\u3044)<\/td>\u826f\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093
\n(\u3088\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t Past Negative<\/td> \u826f\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f
\n(\u3088\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f)<\/td>\u826f\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f
\n(\u3088\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nJapanese Adjective Endings<\/h2>\n
\n(\u3042\u3064\u304f\u3066 \u305f\u307e\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093)
\nUnbearably hot<\/p>\n\u904e\u304e\u308b (\u3059\u304e\u308b) \u2014 Too [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u304d\u3087\u3046\u306f \u3042\u3064\u3059\u304e\u308b\u3002)
\nIt\u2019s too hot<\/em> today.<\/p>\n
\n(\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306e \u3075\u3089\u3093\u3059\u3054\u306f \u3078\u305f\u3059\u304e\u308b\u3002)
\nMy French is too poor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u305d\u3046 \u2014 Looks like, seems like [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u304b\u306e\u3058\u3087\u306f \u305f\u304b\u305d\u3046\u306a \u3069\u308c\u3059\u3092\u304d\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3002)
\nShe wore an expensive-looking <\/em>dress.<\/p>\n
\n(\u3061\u3087\u3046\u3057\u304c \u3088\u304f\u306a\u3055\u305d\u3046 \u3067\u3059\u3088\u3002)
\nYou don\u2019t look well<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u304f\u306a\u308b \u2014 Become [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u3042\u3057\u305f\u306f \u3055\u3080\u304f\u306a\u308b\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002)
\nIt’ll probably become cold<\/em> tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\n(\u306e\u307f\u3084\u3059\u304f\u306a\u308b\u3002)
\nIt\u2019ll become easier<\/em> to drink.<\/p>\n\u3055 \u2014 the suffix “-ness” [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u3084\u3055\u3057\u3055\u3068 \u3088\u308f\u3055\u3092\u3053\u3093\u3069\u3046\u3059\u308b\u306a\u304b\u308c\u3002)
\nDon\u2019t confuse kindness<\/em> with weakness.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n(\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u307b\u3066\u308b\u306e \u304b\u3044\u3066\u304d\u3055\u3068 \u3079\u3093\u308a\u3055\u3092\u305f\u306e\u3057\u3080\u306e\u304c \u3059\u304d\u3088\u3002)
\nI like to enjoy the comfort and convenience of hotels.<\/p>\n\u3051\u308c\u3070 \u2014\u00a0If it is [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u3042\u3064\u3051\u308c\u3070\u3001\u3055\u307e\u3057\u3066 \u306e\u307f\u306a\u3055\u3044\u3002)
\nIf it\u2019s hot<\/em>, let it cool down before drinking it.<\/p>\n
\n(\u3042\u3057\u305f \u3072\u307e\u3067\u3042\u308c\u3070\u3001\u3044\u3063\u3057\u3087\u306b \u3044\u304d\u307e\u3057\u3087\u3046\u306d\u3002)
\nIf you\u2019re free<\/em> tomorrow, let\u2019s go together<\/p>\n\u304f\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070 \u2014 If it is not [adj]<\/h3>\n
\n(\u305d\u308c\u304c \u304a\u3044\u3057\u304f\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070\u3001\u305f\u3079\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002)
\nIf it\u2019s not delicious, don\u2019t eat it.<\/p>\n
\n(\u3073\u3087\u3046\u304d\u3067\u306a\u3051\u308c\u3070\u3001\u304b\u308c\u306f \u304f\u308b\u3060\u308d\u3046\u3002)
\nIf<\/em> he\u2019s not ill<\/em>, he\u2019ll come.<\/p>\n![\"FluentU](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/NativeAd-Japanese.jpg\")
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