Meaning & Usage
โจ Basic Meaning
Na-adjectives (also known as Keiyoudoushi) are a class of Japanese adjectives that function like nouns in terms of conjugation but describe qualities or states. They require the particle ‘na’ when modifying a noun directly.
๐ฏ Primary Function
To describe nouns or express the state of a subject with words that do not end in ‘~i’ for conjugation purposes.
๐ Grammar Structure
[Na-Adj] + ใซ + Verb (Adverbial use)
[I-Adj] (~ใ) + Noun / [I-Adj] (~ใ) + ใงใ
[Na-Adj] + ใช + Noun / [Na-Adj] + ใงใ
[Na-Adj] + ใงใฏใชใ / ใใใใใพใใ / ใงใฏใใใพใใ
๐ญ Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used with ‘desu’ and ‘dewa arimasen’ in polite conversations and formal writing.
Informal Situations
Used with ‘da’ or by just using the stem (e.g., ‘Kirei!’) in casual speech.
Written Language
Standard for descriptive writing and reporting.
Spoken Language
Extremely common for expressing opinions (e.g., ‘Suki desu’).
๐ก Common Applications
Modifying Nouns
Use ‘na’ between the adjective and the noun it describes.
Example: ๆๅใชไบบ (Yuumei na hito – A famous person)
Ending Sentences (Predicate)
Drop ‘na’ and add ‘desu’ to make a polite statement about a subject.
Example: ใใฎๆ็ใฏ็ฐกๅใงใ (Kono ryouri wa kantan desu – This dish is easy)
Negative and Past Tense
Conjugate similarly to nouns using ‘dewa arimasen’ or ‘deshita’.
Example: ๆใงใฏใใใพใใใงใใ (Hima dewa arimasen deshita – Was not free)
Frequency
High. Used daily to describe people, places, and things.
Difficulty
N5 (Beginner)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
ๅฝผใฏใจใฆใ่ฆชๅใงใใ
Furigana: ใใ ใฏ ใจใฆใ ใใใใค ใงใใ
Romaji: Kare wa totemo shinsetsu desu.
English: He is very kind.
Example #2
้ใใช้จๅฑใงๅๅผทใใพใใ
Furigana: ใใใ ใช ใธใ ใง ในใใใใ ใใพใใ
Romaji: Shizuka na heya de benkyou shimasu.
English: I study in a quiet room.
Example #3
ใใฎ็บใฏใจใฆใ่ณใใใงใใ
Furigana: ใใฎ ใพใก ใฏ ใจใฆใ ใซใใใ ใงใใ
Romaji: Kono machi wa totemo nigiyaka desu.
English: This town is very lively.
Example #4
ๆจๆฅใฏๆใงใใใ
Furigana: ใใฎใ ใฏ ใฒใพ ใงใใใ
Romaji: Kinou wa hima deshita.
English: I was free yesterday.
Example #5
่ฉฆ้จใฏใใพใ็ฐกๅใงใฏใใใพใใใงใใใ
Furigana: ใใใ ใฏ ใใพใ ใใใใ ใงใฏใใใพใใใงใใใ
Romaji: Shiken wa amari kantan dewa arimasen deshita.
English: The exam was not very easy.
Example #6
ใใใใช่ฑใงใใญใ
Furigana: ใใใ ใช ใฏใช ใงใ ใญใ
Romaji: Kirei na hana desu ne.
English: It is a beautiful flower, isn’t it?
Example #7
ๅฝผใฏใใในใไธๆใงใใ
Furigana: ใใ ใฏ ใใใน ใ ใใใใ ใงใใ
Romaji: Kare wa tenisu ga jouzu desu.
English: He is good at tennis.
Example #8
ๅซใใช้ฃใน็ฉใฏไฝใงใใใ
Furigana: ใใใ ใช ใในใใฎ ใฏ ใชใ ใงใ ใใ
Romaji: Kirai na tabemono wa nan desu ka?
English: What food do you dislike?
Example #9
ๆฅๆฌ่ชใไธๆใใใใใพใใใ
Furigana: ใซใปใใ ใ ใธใ ใใใใใพใใใ
Romaji: Nihongo ga heta ja arimasen.
English: I am not bad at Japanese.
Example #10
ๅ
ฌๅใฏใจใฆใ้ใใงใใใ
Furigana: ใใใใ ใฏ ใจใฆใ ใใใ ใงใใใ
Romaji: Kouen wa totemo shizuka deshita.
English: The park was very quiet.
Notes & Nuances
๐ Important Points
The ‘i’ ending exception.
Some Na-adjectives look like I-adjectives because they end in ‘i’. You must memorize these exceptions.
Example: ๆๅใช (Yuumei na) ends in ‘i’ but is a Na-adj.
Adverbial form uses ‘ni’.
When using a Na-adj to describe an action (adverb), use ‘ni’ instead of ‘na’.
Example: ้ใใซๆญฉใ (Shizuka ni aruku – Walk quietly)
โ ๏ธ Common Mistakes
โ ใใใไบบ (Kirei hito)
โ
ใใใใชไบบ (Kirei na hito)
Many students forget the ‘na’ when the adjective comes before a noun.
โ ๅฅฝใใชใงใ (Suki na desu)
โ
ๅฅฝใใงใ (Suki desu)
Do not use ‘na’ before ‘desu’ at the end of a sentence.
โ ใใใใชใ (Kirekunai – Incorrect conjugation)
โ
ใใใใช (Na-adj) / ๅฐใใ (I-adj)
Confusing Na-adjectives that end in ‘i’ (like ‘kirei’ or ‘yuumei’) with I-adjectives.
๐๏ธ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard polite form (Desu/Masu) is expected for N5 learners.
Social Situations: Commonly used to give compliments (Kirei, Jouzu) or express preferences (Suki, Kirai).
Regional Variations: In Kansai dialect, ‘ja nai’ might be replaced by ‘ya nai’.
๐ Subtle Differences
Na-adjectives vs. I-adjectives
I-adjectives change their ending (~i to ~ku nai), while Na-adjectives change the following particle (na to ja nai).
When to use: Use Na-adjectives for fixed states or qualitative descriptions that act like nouns.
๐ Conjugation Notes
Na-adjectives conjugate exactly like nouns. To make them past tense, use ‘deshita’. To make them negative, use ‘dewa arimasen’ or ‘ja arimasen’.
๐ Pronunciation Tips
Pay attention to the pitch accent of common words like ‘Suki’ (the ‘u’ is often whispered/devoiced).
๐ง Memory Tips
Think of Na-adjectives as ‘Adjectival Nouns’. They are basically nouns that act as adjectives when you stick ‘na’ on the end.
Other Grammar
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