Language/Japanese/Grammar/Adjective-Conjugation
As a Japanese language teacher for over 20 years, I have found that mastering adjectives and adverbs is essential to becoming proficient in the language. In this lesson, we will focus on how to conjugate adjectives and compare them using the basic pattern ~より~. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to use adjectives properly in your Japanese writing and speech.
Adjective Conjugation
In Japanese, adjectives come in two forms: i-adjectives and na-adjectives. i-adjectives end with い, while na-adjectives end with な. When it comes to conjugation, the rules differ slightly for each type.
Conjugating i-Adjectives
To conjugate i-adjectives into the present tense, simply remove the い and add い for affirmative sentences, or remove the い and add くない for negative sentences. For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
高い (takai) | ta-ka-i | high, expensive |
高くない (takakunai) | ta-ka-ku-na-i | not high, not expensive |
To conjugate i-adjectives into the past tense, remove the い and add かった for affirmative sentences, or remove the い and add くなかった for negative sentences. For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
静かだった (shizukadatta) | shi-zu-ka-da-ta | was quiet |
静かじゃなかった (shizukajanakatta) | shi-zu-ka-ja-na-ka-ta | was not quiet |
Conjugating na-Adjectives
To modify a noun with a na-adjective, simply put the na-adjective before the noun. Na-adjectives themselves do not change for tense. For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
忙しい (isogashii) | i-so-ga-shi-i | busy |
忙しい人 (isogashii hito) | i-so-ga-shi-i hi-to | a busy person |
Comparison using ~より~
To compare two things using adjectives, use the pattern ~より~. The thing being compared is marked by ~より, and the adjective is used in the basic い-form. For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
田中さんは私より背が高いです (Tanaka-san wa watashi yori se ga takai desu) | Ta-na-ka-san wa wa-ta-shi yori se ga ta-ka-i desu | Tanaka-san is taller than me. |
Practice
Here are some practice exercises for you to try on your own:
- Translate the following sentences into Japanese using the correct adjective form:
- I am not hungry. (use お腹がすいていない)
- The movie was interesting. (use 面白かった)
- The weather today is sunny. (use 晴れている)
- Make a comparison sentence using the following pairs of adjectives:
- Busy - not busy
- Delicious - not delicious
- Beautiful - ugly
Sources