Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say:
- “an old book”
- “a beautiful sea”
- “a lively town”
In Japanese, you can use both い-adjectives and な-adjectives to directly modify nouns. This is one of the simplest and most useful patterns in Japanese — and it helps you speak more naturally and descriptively!
In this lesson, you’ll learn:
✔ How to attach adjectives to nouns
✔ The difference between い and な adjectives in this pattern
✔ Common mistakes to avoid
✔ Easy examples and practice
Let’s learn how to say things like “a scary movie” and “a quiet room” in natural Japanese!
1. What Is the “Adj + Noun” Pattern in Japanese?
Just like in English (“a beautiful flower”), adjectives in Japanese come before the noun they describe.
But how you connect the adjective depends on whether it’s an い-adjective or a な-adjective.
2. い-Adjectives + Noun
Rule: Just place the adjective before the noun. No extra particle needed.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| おもしろい 映画（えいが） | an interesting movie |
| たかい ビル | a tall building |
| ふるい 本（ほん） | an old book |
| こわい 映画 | a scary movie |
| おいしい りんご | a delicious apple |
❌ Don’t use の between the adjective and the noun.
→ × おもしろいの映画
→ ✓ おもしろい 映画
3. な-Adjectives + Noun
Rule: Insert な between the adjective and the noun.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| きれいな 花（はな） | a beautiful flower |
| しずかな 部屋（へや） | a quiet room |
| にぎやかな 町（まち） | a lively town |
| げんきな 人（ひと） | a healthy person |
| すきな 食べ物（たべもの） | a favorite food |
Don’t forget the な!
→ × しずか 部屋
→ ✓ しずかな 部屋
4. Practice: Describe These Things!
Examples with Pictures:
にぎやかな町ですね。(It’s a lively town, isn’t it?)
大きいかばんですね。(That’s a big bag.)
きれいな部屋ですね。(That’s a clean room.)
5. Mini Q&A Practice
Try answering the following with Adj + N patterns:
- はなさんはどんな人ですか？
→ やさしい人です。 (She is a kind person.) - やまださんはどんな人ですか？
→ 元気な人です。 (He is a healthy person.) - たつやさんは？
→ 面白い人です。 (He is a funny person.) - きのうのテストは？
→ 難しいテストでした。 (It was a difficult test.)
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhat’s the difference between い-adjectives and な-adjectives in this pattern?
- A
い-adjectives can attach directly to nouns. な-adjectives must use な before the noun. Example:
→ おいしいケーキ (delicious cake)
→ きれいな海 (beautiful sea)
- QCan I use の to connect adjectives and nouns?
- A
No. Adjectives never take の before a noun. That’s for connecting two nouns.
Example: × しずかの部屋
- QIs this pattern used in past tense too?
- A
No change in form! You can say:
→ にぎやかな町でした (It was a lively town)
→ やさしい人でした (She was a kind person)
7. Conclusion
Now you can use adjectives to describe the world around you:
✅ おもしろい本 → an interesting book
✅ きれいな海 → a beautiful sea
✅ こわい映画 → a scary movie
✅ しずかな部屋 → a quiet room
🎯 Practice by describing 3 objects near you right now!
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