Na-Adjectives (な形容詞)
Master Japanese Descriptive Words with な Connection
Table of Contents
1. What are Na-Adjectives?
Na-adjectives (な形容詞) are Japanese adjectives that need な when modifying nouns
They conjugate with だ/である and function more like nouns
Understanding Na-Adjectives
Noun-like Nature: Behave similarly to nouns in conjugation patterns
Connection Particle: Use な to connect to nouns they modify
Predicate Form: Use だ/である when functioning as sentence predicates
Descriptive Power: Often express qualities, states, and characteristics
Formal Origins: Many derived from Chinese compounds or modern concepts
2. How to Recognize Na-Adjectives
Recognition Patterns
Various Endings
No consistent ending pattern
Before Nouns
Always uses な connector
As Predicate
Uses だ/である ending
Common Ending Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Reading | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -的 | 基本的 | きほんてき | basic | From Chinese compounds |
| -か | 静か | しずか | quiet | Traditional Japanese |
| Ending in い | きれい | きれい | beautiful | False I-adjective |
| -らか | 明らか | あきらか | clear/obvious | Traditional pattern |
| Various | 大切 | たいせつ | important | Must memorize individually |
3. Basic Usage & Structure
Two Main Functions
Pattern: Na-adj + な + Noun
Pattern: Noun は Na-adj + だ
Sentence Structures
Simple Predicate:
この映画は有名だ。
Polite Form:
この映画は有名です。
Noun Modification:
有名な映画を見ます。
4. Conjugation with だ/である
Basic Conjugation Patterns
| Form | Casual | Polite | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | きれいだ | きれいです | kirei da/desu | is beautiful |
| Past | きれいだった | きれいでした | kirei datta/deshita | was beautiful |
| Negative | きれいじゃない | きれいじゃないです | kirei ja nai (desu) | is not beautiful |
| Past Negative | きれいじゃなかった | きれいじゃなかったです | kirei ja nakatta (desu) | was not beautiful |
| Formal Negative | きれいではない | きれいではありません | kirei dewa nai/arimasen | is not beautiful (formal) |
Step-by-Step Conjugation
Starting with 静か (shizuka – quiet):
1. Present: 静か + だ = 静かだ
2. Past: 静か + だった = 静かだった
3. Negative: 静か + じゃない = 静かじゃない
4. Past Negative: 静か + じゃなかった = 静かじゃなかった
Polite versions: Add です or use ではありません
• 静かです (polite present)
• 静かではありません (formal negative)
5. Most Common Na-Adjectives
Essential Daily Na-Adjectives
Usage: きれいな人 (beautiful person)
Usage: 有名な俳優 (famous actor)
Usage: 大切な友達 (precious friend)
Usage: 元気な子供 (energetic child)
Usage: 静かな図書館 (quiet library)
Usage: 便利な店 (convenient store)
Complete Common Na-Adjectives List
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 簡単 | かんたん | kantan | simple/easy | Quality |
| 大変 | たいへん | taihen | difficult/tough | Quality |
| 安全 | あんぜん | anzen | safe | State |
| 危険 | きけん | kiken | dangerous | State |
| 自由 | じゆう | jiyuu | free | State |
| 不便 | ふべん | fuben | inconvenient | Quality |
| 親切 | しんせつ | shinsetsu | kind | Character |
| 意地悪 | いじわる | ijiwaru | mean/nasty | Character |
| 上手 | じょうず | jouzu | skillful | Ability |
| 下手 | へた | heta | unskillful | Ability |
| 好き | すき | suki | like | Preference |
| 嫌い | きらい | kirai | dislike | Preference |
| 丁寧 | ていねい | teinei | polite/careful | Character |
| 失礼 | しつれい | shitsurei | rude | Character |
| 素敵 | すてき | suteki | wonderful | Quality |
| 真面目 | まじめ | majime | serious | Character |
| 賑やか | にぎやか | nigiyaka | lively | Atmosphere |
| 完全 | かんぜん | kanzen | perfect | State |
| 特別 | とくべつ | tokubetsu | special | Quality |
| 普通 | ふつう | futsuu | ordinary | Quality |
6. Past, Present & Negative Forms
Complete Conjugation Examples
| Base | Present | Past | Negative | Past Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 静か | 静かだ 静かです | 静かだった 静かでした | 静かじゃない 静かではありません | 静かじゃなかった 静かではありませんでした |
| 有名 | 有名だ 有名です | 有名だった 有名でした | 有名じゃない 有名ではありません | 有名じゃなかった 有名ではありませんでした |
| 便利 | 便利だ 便利です | 便利だった 便利でした | 便利じゃない 便利ではありません | 便利じゃなかった 便利ではありませんでした |
Practical Tense Usage
Present States:
この場所は静かです。
Past Experiences:
昨日のパーティーは賑やかでした。
Negative Descriptions:
この問題は簡単じゃありません。
7. Na-Adjectives vs I-Adjectives
Key Differences
| Aspect | Na-Adjectives | I-Adjectives |
|---|---|---|
| Ending Pattern | Various (some end in い) | Always end in い |
| Before Nouns | きれいな車 (need な) | 大きい車 (direct) |
| As Predicate | 車はきれいだ (need だ) | 車は大きい (standalone) |
| Polite Form | きれいです | 大きいです |
| Past Form | きれいだった | 大きかった |
| Negative | きれいじゃない | 大きくない |
| Adverb Form | きれいに (with に) | 大きく (change い to く) |
Memory Tips
Na-adjectives act like nouns: Need connectors (な, だ) just like nouns need particles
I-adjectives act like verbs: Conjugate independently and can stand alone
Test method: Try adding な before a noun – if it sounds right, it’s na-adjective
Origin clue: Many na-adjectives come from Chinese compounds or newer concepts
8. Making Adverbs with に
Adverbial Form Pattern
Formation Rule
Describes HOW an action is done
Example
静かに話す (speak quietly)
Common Adverbial Forms
| Na-Adjective | Reading | Adverb Form | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 丁寧 | ていねい | 丁寧に | ていねいに | politely/carefully |
| 簡単 | かんたん | 簡単に | かんたんに | simply/easily |
| 完全 | かんぜん | 完全に | かんぜんに | completely |
| 特別 | とくべつ | 特別に | とくべつに | specially |
| 自由 | じゆう | 自由に | じゆうに | freely |
| 安全 | あんぜん | 安全に | あんぜんに | safely |
Adverb Usage Examples
Describing Actions:
丁寧に説明します。
Manner of Action:
自由に選んでください。
9. Special Cases & Exceptions
Dual-Function Words
好き (suki)
Functions as na-adjective
嫌い (kirai)
Functions as na-adjective
大好き (daisuki)
Always na-adjective
Words That Look Like I-Adjectives
| Word | Reading | Type | Before Nouns | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| きれい | きれい | Na-adjective | きれいな部屋 | beautiful/clean |
| 有名 | ゆうめい | Na-adjective | 有名な人 | famous |
| 嫌い | きらい | Na-adjective | 嫌いな野菜 | disliked |
| 幸い | さいわい | Na-adjective | 幸いな出来事 | fortunate |
Formal vs Casual Negation
Casual Negative:
この店は有名じゃない。
Formal Negative:
この店は有名ではありません。
10. Practice & Applications
Daily Description Practice
Personality & Character:
私の友達は親切で真面目です。
Places & Environments:
この図書館は静かで便利です。
Skills & Abilities:
彼は日本語が上手で、料理も得意です。
Practical Application Exercises
| Exercise Type | Task | Example | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| People description | Describe personalities using na-adjectives | 先生は親切で有名です | Character description |
| Place reviews | Describe locations and facilities | この店は便利で安全です | Environmental description |
| Past experiences | Use past tense na-adjectives | 昨日は大変でした | Temporal accuracy |
| Preferences | Express likes/dislikes with 好き/嫌い | 野菜が好きじゃない | Personal expression |
Mastery Checklist
Beginner Level: Recognize na-adjectives and use な correctly before nouns
Intermediate Level: Master だ/である conjugations and polite forms
Advanced Level: Use adverbial forms with に and combine multiple adjectives
Expert Level: Distinguish subtle differences and use appropriate formality levels
Common Mistake Prevention
Don’t forget な: Always use な when na-adjectives modify nouns
Don’t mix up: 静か (na-adj) vs 静かな (before nouns) vs 静かだ (predicate)
Remember conjugation: Na-adjectives need だ/である, they can’t stand alone
Watch endings: Some い-ending words are na-adjectives (きれい, 嫌い)
Na-Adjective Mastery Achieved!
You now understand the essential complement to I-adjectives! Na-adjectives expand your descriptive vocabulary and allow you to express complex qualities, states, and characteristics with precision.
Na-Adjectives Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Japanese Na-Adjectives (な形容詞)
Exercise 1: Basic Recognition
What is the Japanese term for Na-adjectives?
Explanation: Na-adjectives are called な形容詞 because they use な when modifying nouns.
Exercise 2: Correct Usage
How do you say “beautiful flower”?
Explanation: Na-adjectives need な when modifying nouns directly.
Exercise 3: Predicate Form
How do you say “The place is quiet” casually?
Explanation: Na-adjectives need だ when used as predicates in casual speech.
Exercise 4: Past Tense
What is the past tense of 有名だ (yuumei da)?
Explanation: Na-adjectives form past tense with だった (casual) or でした (polite).
Exercise 5: Negative Form
How do you say “not convenient” casually?
Explanation: Na-adjectives form casual negative with じゃない.
Exercise 6: Adverbial Form
How do you make 丁寧 (teinei) into an adverb?
Explanation: Na-adjectives form adverbs by adding に.
Exercise 7: Identification
Which of these is a na-adjective?
Explanation: 静か is a na-adjective. 大きい and 高い are i-adjectives.
Exercise 8: False I-Adjective
Which word ending in い is actually a na-adjective?
Explanation: きれい ends in い but functions as a na-adjective: きれいな人.
Exercise 9: Skill Adjectives
What does 上手 (jouzu) mean?
Explanation: 上手 means skillful or good at something. The opposite is 下手 (heta).
Exercise 10: Formal Negative
What is the formal negative of 簡単だ (kantan da)?
Explanation: Formal negative for na-adjectives uses ではありません.
Exercise 11: Character Traits
Which means “kind”?
Explanation: 親切 means kind. 意地悪 means mean/nasty, and 失礼 means rude.
Exercise 12: Polite Form
How do you say “It’s important” politely?
Explanation: Na-adjectives become polite by using です instead of だ.
Exercise 13: Preference Adjectives
How do you say “favorite food”?
Explanation: 好き functions as a na-adjective when modifying nouns.
Exercise 14: State Adjectives
What does 元気 (genki) mean?
Explanation: 元気 means healthy, energetic, or in good spirits.
Exercise 15: Past Negative
What is the past negative of 有名だ (yuumei da)?
Explanation: Past negative: じゃない → じゃなかった
Exercise 16: Usage Context
Which sentence is correct?
Explanation: Na-adjectives need だ when used as predicates.
Exercise 17: Connecting Adjectives
How do you connect “famous and beautiful”?
Explanation: Connect na-adjectives using で form: 有名で + きれい.
Exercise 18: Quality Adjectives
What is the opposite of 簡単 (kantan)?
Explanation: 大変 means difficult/tough, the opposite of 簡単 (simple/easy).
Exercise 19: Practical Usage
How do you say “safely”?
Explanation: Na-adjectives form adverbs with に: 安全に運転する (drive safely).
Exercise 20: Advanced Recognition
Which sentence shows correct na-adjective usage?
Explanation: Na-adjectives need な when modifying nouns: 真面目な学生 (serious student).
How did you do?
Check your answers by selecting options above. Each correct answer will show in purple!
