Adjective forms and conjugations

Ever watched an anime character go from 強い (“strong”) to 強くない (“not strong”) in a single line? That’s a Japanese adjective conjugating — and once you get the hang of it, you can describe almost anything. Japanese has just two types of adjectives, and this guide breaks down both, with conjugations and practice.

Types of adjectives

Adjectives modify nouns and predicates or can be used for predicates.
They represent the nature, state, emotions, sensations, etc. of the subject.

In Japanese, there are 2 types of adjectives below.

I-Adjective

All I-Adjectives end with the “i” sound when modifying a noun.
They are original Japanese adjectives.

Na-Adjective

All Na-Adjectives end with the “na” sound when modifying a noun.
These came from Chinese, English, or other languages.

Each adjective is further divided into 2 types below.

Attributive adjectives

They represent the nature, state, etc of the subject.

Emotional adjectives

They represent the emotions, sensations, etc. of the subject.

I-Adjective

Attributive adjectives

Size-related I-Adjectives

Other physical quantity related I-Adjectives

Color I-Adjectives

Taste related I-Adjectives

Other attributive I-Adjectives

Emotional adjectives

Emotional I-Adjectives

Conjugations

Japanese I-Adjectives have conjugations like English verbs.

I-Adjective can be transformed to a noun by changing the end of the word from “i” to “sa”.
e.g. 大きい [i-adjective] –> 大きさ [noun], 甘い [i-adjective] –> 甘さ [noun]

Don’t let all these forms scare you! You already do this in English (“big → bigger → biggest”). Learn one adjective’s pattern and the rest just click into place. 💪

Examples

Dictionary form

This is mainly used as a predicate.

e.g. タケシは大おおきいです。

Takeshi is tall.

When modifying a noun

This is mainly used when modifying a noun.

e.g. 大おおきいタケシは歩あるきます。

Tall Takeshi walks.

Conjunctive form

This is mainly used when modifying a predicate.

e.g. 砂糖さとうを加くわえて甘あまくします。

Add sugar to sweeten it.

砂糖さとう [noun] sugar
加くわえる [verb] add, blend in, mix in
する [verb] make, change

Nai form

This is mainly used when denying or incomplete.

e.g そのキャラクターは可愛かわいくないです。

The character is not cute.

キャラクター [noun] character

Te form

This is mainly used when connecting simple sentences and making a compound sentence.

e.g. 楽たのしくてもっとやりたい。

It’s fun and I want to do more.

もっと [adverb] more, further
やる [verb] do, play, try

Ta form

This is mainly used to indicate the past or completion.

e.g. 彼女かのじょの腕うでは細ほそかった。

Her arms were thin.

腕うで [noun] arm

Ba form

This is mainly used to make assumptions.

e.g. 1000円えん安やすければ買かいます。

I will buy it if it is 1000 yen cheaper.

買かう [verb] buy

Practice

Put a conjugation form of I-Adjective in the underlined part.

Na-Adjective

Vocabulary

All Na-Adjectives end with the “na” sound when in dictionary form. However, since the form with “na” added is not often used in actual sentences, “na” is omitted here.

Conjugations

Japanese Na-Adjectives have conjugations like English verbs too.

Examples

Dictionary form

This is mainly used as a predicate.

e.g. あなたが好すきだ。 or あなたが好すきです。 (私わたしは is omitted)

I like you.

When modifying a noun

This is mainly used when modifying a noun.

e.g. 好すきなものを選えらんでください。 (あなたが is omitted)

Please choose the one you like.

選えらぶ [verb] choose

Conjunctive form

This is mainly used when modifying a predicate.

e.g. 近所きんじょにコンビニができて、便利べんりになった。

A convenience store opened in the neighborhood, and it became more convenient.

近所 [noun] neighborhood
コンビニ [noun] convenience store
できる [verb] be made, be ready
なる [verb] result in, turn out, become

Nai form

This is mainly used when denying or incomplete.

e.g 彼かれは親切しんせつでないと思おもいます。 (私わたしは is omitted)

I don’t think he is kind.

思おもう [verb] think

Te form

This is mainly used when connecting simple sentences and making a compound sentence.

e.g. 彼女かのじょは有名ゆうめいで人気にんきがあります。

She is famous and popular.

人気+が+ある [noun+particle+verb] be popular

Ta form

This is mainly used to indicate the past or completion.

e.g. 暇ひまだったので来きました。

I came because I was free.

来る [verb] come

Ba form

This is mainly used to make assumptions.

e.g. 大変たいへんであれば手伝てつだいます。

I will help you if it is difficult.

手伝てつだう [verb] help

Practice

Put a conjugation form of Na-Adjective in the underlined part.

Summary

Japanese adjectives come in just two flavors, and once you know which is which, the rest is mostly pattern practice:

• I-Adjectives end in “i” (大きい, 楽しい). They are native Japanese words and conjugate on their own: 大きい → 大きくない → 大きかった.
• Na-Adjectives take “na” before a noun (好きな人, 便利な道具). Many came from Chinese or other languages, and they conjugate with だ/です-style endings: 好きだ → 好きじゃない → 好きだった.

Both types also split into attributive adjectives (describing the nature or state of something) and emotional adjectives (describing feelings and sensations). And both conjugate into the same set of forms: dictionary, conjunctive, nai, te, ta, and ba.

The key is to figure out whether a word is an I-Adjective or a Na-Adjective first. After that, the conjugation pattern is always the same.

That’s a lot of adjectives! Don’t try to memorize them all at once — pick a few that describe your favorite anime characters and try using them today. 😊