Na-Adjectives
The other main type of Japanese adjective, alongside い-adjectives. They conjugate the same way nouns do, which makes them a bit different to work with. Our lesson on Japanese adjectives introduces both types side by side, and the conjugation guide goes deeper into every form.
Common な-Adjectives
| Adjective | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 好き | すき | like |
| きれい | きれい | beautiful, clean |
| 元気 | げんき | healthy, energetic |
| 静か | しずか | quiet |
| 有名 | ゆうめい | famous |
| 親切 | しんせつ | kind |
| 便利 | べんり | convenient |
| 大変 | たいへん | terrible, tough |
| 大丈夫 | だいじょうぶ | okay, fine |
Watch out: きれい and 有名 end in い but they are な-adjectives, not い-adjectives.
Conjugation
な-adjectives conjugate like nouns:
Plain Form
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 静かだ | 静かじゃない |
| Past | 静かだった | 静かじゃなかった |
Polite Form
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 静かです | 静かじゃありません |
| Past | 静かでした | 静かじゃありませんでした |
Modifying Nouns
な-adjectives connect to nouns with な:
- きれいな景色 (a beautiful view)
- 有名な人 (a famous person)
- 静かな場所 (a quiet place)
That な is where the name comes from.
好き Is an Adjective
In English, "to like" is a verb. In Japanese, 好き is a な-adjective. This means the thing you like is marked with が, not を:
猫が好きです。 (I like cats.)