Adjectives are split into two groups, -i adjectives and -na adjectives. This article tackles -na adjectives. If you would like to learn about -i adjectives, please click here.
The -na adjectives pretty much act as nouns. However, instead of modifying another noun with a の (see the right for an example of a noun modifying another) -na adjectives modify a noun with a な na.
となり の 犬
tonari no inu
the dog next door; next door's dog
An example of an -na adjective is げんき genki (healthy, vigorous, energetic…)
元気な 犬
genki na inu
an energetic dog
- You only use the な na ending when placed before nouns. Therefore, some words will simply have to be memorized as -na adjectives. Some even end in -i such as きれい kirei (pretty, beautiful) even though these are not -i adjectives.
- Many -na adjectives are usually made of two kanji. For example:
きれい is 綺麗
すてき is 素敵
- Whereas -i adjectives are usually made of one kanji plus at least one hiragana and ends in a hiragana i. This isn't always true, but it is a good rule of thumb.
SENTENCE #1: non-past lone adjective
あなたは きれい です。 anata wa kirei desu. You are beautiful. | Here the adjective kirei (beautiful) is used by itself (not modifying a noun or anything). It doesn’t change at all. |
- Easy enough! But let’s add a noun…
SENTENCE #2: non-past modifying adjective
あなたは きれい な 人 です。 anata wa kirei na hito desu. You are a beautiful person. | Now, the adjective kirei is modifying a noun hito (person). Therefore the –na is added. |
- for -na adjectives, the only change is to add or take away the na . Let’s go negative…
SENTENCE #3: non-past negative
わたしは きれい では ありません。 watashi wa kirei dewa arimasen. I am NOT beautiful. | Notice the -na adjective doesn’t change. With -i adjectives , the adjective changes and not the verb [anata wa kawakunai desu. You are not cute.] |
SENTENCE #4: past
あなたは きれい でした。 anata wa kirei deshita. You were beautiful. | Again nothing changes but the verb. –na adjectives act very much like nouns. |
- Easy! Just remember the -na is added before nouns >>> kirei na neko – beautiful cat
SENTENCE #5: past negative
あなたは きれい では ありません でした。 anata wa kirei dewa arimasen deshita. You were not beautiful. | Once again we simply treat the -na adjective as a noun and only the verb changes. The familiar form would be anata wa kirei ja nakatta. |
*** I SUGGEST MEMORIZING A FEW GOOD ONE-WORD EXAMPLES. THE FOLLOWING ARE USED JUST AS THEY ARE VERY OFTEN IN JAPANESE:
By itself | Modifying a noun |
|---|---|
しずか shizuka | しずか な (ところ) shizuka na (tokoro) |
べんり benri | べんり な (ところ) benri na (tokoro ) |
-na adjectives modify a noun with a な na.
A list of common beginner level -na adjectives with readings. Click the "Download Worksheet" to, well, download a worksheet on the following vocabulary words.
げんき genki – 元気 healthy; feeling fine
すき suki – 好き like
ゆうめい yuumei – 有名 famous
しずか shizuka – 静か silent; quiet
きれい kirei – 綺麗 beautiful; clean; tidy
おなじ onaji – 同じ the same; alike
いろいろ iroiro – 色々 various; several
けっこう kekkou – 結構 quite; fairly; well; good; fine
じょうず jouzu – 上手 skill; proficiency
じょうぶ joubu – 丈夫 healthy; strong
たいせつ taisetsu – 大切 important
だいじょうぶ daijoubu – 大丈夫 safe, all right, OK
だいすき daisuki – 大好き like (a lot); love
にぎやか nigiyaka – 賑やか busy; bustling
ひま hima – 暇 free-time
へた heta – 下手 unskilled
べんり benri – 便利 convenience; convenient
りっぱ rippa – 立派 fine; handsome; splendid
たいへん taihen – 大変 very; greatly; serious; hard
まっすぐ massugu – 真直ぐ straight; direct; upright
Examples
その本が好きです。
I like this book.
本 (ほん hon – book)
好き (すき suki – like)
Extremely useful information thank you