Learn Japanese grammar: な-adjectives (na-adjectives), also known as な形容詞 (na keiyoushi).
There are two kinds of adjective in Japanese, i-adjectives (い形容詞) and na-adjectives (な形容詞).
The na-adjective is very simple to learn because it acts essentially like a noun and the form does not change much. Let’s look at some basic examples.
How to conjugate na-adjectives
な-adjective (present)
Let’s start with a basic adjective, 元気 【げんき】 (genki) which means energetic.
その子はげんきだ。
sono ko wa genki da.
That child is energetic.
When a na-adjective is placed before a noun, a な is added at the end of the adjective.
かれはげんきな子だね。
kare wa genki na ko da ne.
He is an energetic child.
な-adjective (present negative)
その子はげんきじゃないね。
sono ko wa genki janai ne.
That child is not very energetic.
な-adjective (past)
その子はとてもげんきだったね。
sono ko wa totemo genki datta ne.
That child was really energetic.
な-adjective (past negative)
かれはあまりげんきじゃなかったね。
kare wa amari genki janakatta ne.
He wasn’t very energetic.
Other common na-adjectives
- 上手 (jouzu) skill, proficiency
- 下手 (heta) unskilled
- 好き (suki) like
- 有名 (yuumei) famous
- きれい (kirei) beautiful, clean, tidy
Other References
- See full N5 adjectives list.
- See full N5 な-adjectives list.
Also see lesson on い-adjectives (い形容詞).
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