Once you understand the two adjective types and how they conjugate, you can describe almost anything: people, food, weather, feelings, and places.
This guide covers:
- Types of adjectives
- How adjectives work in sentences
- Present, past, and negative forms
- Using adjectives with nouns
- Common N5 examples
1. What Is an Adjective in Japanese?
An adjective describes a noun (a person, thing, place, or idea).
Examples:
- 高い (takai) – expensive / tall
- きれい (kirei) – clean / beautiful
- 暑い (atsui) – hot (weather)
* Important:
In Japanese, adjectives can end a sentence by themselves (like verbs).
Example:
- この店は高い。
- This shop is expensive.
2. Types of Japanese Adjectives
Japanese adjectives are divided into two main types.
3. い-adjectives (い形容詞)
These adjectives end with い.
Examples:
- 高い (takai) – expensive / tall
- 安い (yasui) – cheap
- 新しい (atarashii) – new
- おいしい (oishii) – delicious
- 暑い (atsui) – hot
How to Use with Nouns
Place the adjective before the noun.
Example:
- 高い車
- an expensive car
Conjugation of い-adjectives
Present (affirmative)
- 高い
- is expensive
Negative
- 高い → 高くない
- is not expensive
Past
- 高い → 高かった
- was expensive
Past negative
- 高い → 高くなかった
- was not expensive
Example:
- この料理はおいしかった。
- This food was delicious.
4. な-adjectives (な形容詞)
These adjectives do not end with い (some do, but they are exceptions).
Examples:
- きれい (kirei) – clean / beautiful
- 元気 (genki) – healthy / energetic
- 静か (shizuka) – quiet
- 有名 (yuumei) – famous
How to Use with Nouns
Add な between the adjective and the noun.
Example:
- きれいな町
- a beautiful town
Conjugation of な-adjectives
Present (affirmative)
- きれいだ
- is beautiful
Negative
- きれいじゃない
- is not beautiful
Past
- きれいだった
- was beautiful
Past negative
- きれいじゃなかった
- was not beautiful
Example:
- その部屋は静かだった。
- That room was quiet.
5. Adjectives at the End of a Sentence
Adjectives can finish a sentence without a verb.
Examples:
- この映画は面白い。
- This movie is interesting.
- 彼は元気だ。
- He is energetic.
6. Polite Form of Adjectives (です)
To make adjectives polite, just add です.
Examples:
- この店は高いです。
- 町はきれいです。
📌 Note:
For い-adjectives, です does not change the adjective.
7. Adjective + です (Past & Negative)
い-adjectives
- 高くないです – not expensive
- 高かったです – was expensive
な-adjectives
- きれいじゃないです – not beautiful
- きれいでした – was beautiful
8. Common N5 Adjectives List
い-adjectives
- 大きい – big
- 小さい – small
- 多い – many
- 少ない – few
- 忙しい – busy
な-adjectives
- 便利 – convenient
- 暇 – free (not busy)
- 好き – like
- 嫌い – dislike
9. Comparing Two Things (Basic)
Use A は B より + adjective.
Example:
- 猫は犬よりかわいい。
- Cats are cuter than dogs.
10. Summary for N5 Adjectives
At JLPT N5 level, you should master:
✅ い-adjectives
✅ な-adjectives
✅ Present / past / negative forms
✅ Using adjectives before nouns
✅ Polite form with です