{"id":1713,"date":"2009-11-03T05:14:28","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T07:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=1713"},"modified":"2026-08-10T23:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T02:35:05","slug":"adjectives-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/adjetivos-na-em-japones\/","title":{"rendered":"Na-adjectives in Japanese: forms, uses, and examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

You na adjectives in Japanese<\/strong>, also called \u306a adjectives<\/strong>, use \u306a<\/strong> when they directly modify a noun in the affirmative non-past form: \u9759\u304b\u306a\u753a<\/strong> (shizuka na machi<\/em>, \u201cquiet town\u201d. At the end of the sentence, however, the pattern changes: \u753a\u306f\u9759\u304b\u3067\u3059<\/strong> (Machi wa shizuka desu<\/em>, \u201cThe town is quiet\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

The main rule is not to treat \u306a<\/strong> as a fixed ending of the word. It appears in a specific function. To negate, talk about the past, connect characteristics, or indicate change, \u306a adjectives follow other patterns.<\/p>\n\n

What are adjectives in Japanese?<\/h2>\n\n

\u306a adjectives describe qualities, states, preferences, and evaluations. Some frequent examples are \u9759\u304b<\/strong> (shizuka<\/em>, quiet), \u4fbf\u5229<\/strong> (benri<\/em>, practical or convenient), \u6709\u540d<\/strong> (y\u016bmei<\/em>, famous), \u304d\u308c\u3044<\/strong> (kirei<\/em>, beautiful or clean), and \u597d\u304d<\/strong> (suki<\/em>, which one likes).<\/p>\n\n

The name \u201c\u306a-adjective\u201d comes from the pattern used before a noun: \u9759\u304b\u306a\u90e8\u5c4b<\/strong> (shizuka na heya<\/em>), \u201cquiet room\u201d. This does not mean that the dictionary form is \u9759\u304b\u306a<\/strong> nor that every occurrence requires \u306a.<\/p>\n\n

It is also not safe to classify the word by its last letter. \u304d\u308c\u3044<\/strong> visually ends in \u3044, but belongs to the \u306a group: say \u304d\u308c\u3044\u306a\u516c\u5712<\/strong>, not \u304d\u308c\u3044\u3044\u516c\u5712<\/strong>. The general guide adjectives in japanese<\/a> compares the two classes, while the article on \u3044 adjectives<\/a> delves deeper into the other pattern.<\/p>\n\n

Frequent \u306a-adjectives to learn with the class<\/h2>\n\n

Memorize each word along with the pattern used before a noun. This is more reliable than trying to guess the class by spelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Word<\/th>Reading<\/th>Common meaning<\/th>With noun<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
\u9759\u304b<\/td>shizuka<\/em><\/td>quiet; silent<\/td>\u9759\u304b\u306a\u5834\u6240<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u4fbf\u5229<\/td>benri<\/em><\/td>practical; convenient<\/td>\u4fbf\u5229\u306a\u9053\u5177<\/td><\/tr>\n
genki<\/td>genki<\/em><\/td>healthy; well<\/td>a healthy child<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u5927\u5207<\/td>taisetsu<\/em><\/td>important; precious<\/td>an important book<\/td><\/tr>\n
kantan<\/td>kantan<\/em><\/td>simple; easy<\/td>a simple problem<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u304d\u308c\u3044<\/td>kirei<\/em><\/td>pretty; clean<\/td>a clean room<\/td><\/tr>\n
\u597d\u304d<\/td>suki<\/em><\/td>liked; favorite<\/td>favorite music<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

\u597d\u304d<\/strong> deserves attention because it often corresponds to \u201cto like\u201d in translation, but it does not function as a verb. In I like Japanese<\/strong> (Watashi wa Nihongo ga suki desu<\/em>), the construction presents Japanese as the thing that is liked.<\/p>\n\n

When to use \u306a and when not to use it<\/h2>\n\n

Use \u306a between the adjective and the noun in the affirmative non-past form. In the polite predicate, use the adjective followed by \u3067\u3059, without \u306a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Function<\/th>Structure<\/th>Example<\/th>Translation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
Before the noun<\/td>Na-adj + \u306a + noun<\/td>Convenient app<\/td>practical app<\/td><\/tr>\n
In the predicate<\/td>topic + \u306f + \u30caA + \u3067\u3059<\/td>This app is convenient.<\/td>This app is practical.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

O Irodori from the Japan Foundation presents the contrast between \u30caA-\u306a N and \u30caA-\u3067\u3059<\/a>. This difference avoids forms like \u4fbf\u5229\u306a\u3067\u3059<\/strong>, which mix the two constructions.<\/p>\n\n

In negative or past forms before a noun, \u306a also does not remain:<\/p>\n\n