Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say “Tokyo is convenient and lively” or “Mr. Suzuki is smart and kind”?
In English, we use “and” to connect ideas. In Japanese, we use the te-form (て形) — not just for verbs, but also for adjectives and nouns!
In this article, you’ll learn how to:
- Connect multiple adjectives
- Combine nouns with adjectives
- Avoid common mistakes Let’s level up your Japanese fluency with te-form combinations!
1. What is the Adjective/Noun te-form?
The te-form is a special verb form in Japanese that acts like “and” or “so” in English.
It can also be used with adjectives and nouns to describe two or more qualities in a single sentence.
Think of it like this:
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Tokyo is convenient and lively. | 東京は便利でにぎやかです。 |
| Mr. Suzuki is smart and kind. | 鈴木さんは頭がよくて優しいです。 |
2. How to Make the te-form of Adjectives
i-Adjectives (い形容詞)
For regular i-adjectives, drop the final い and add くて.
| Adjective | Te-form |
|---|---|
| たかい | たかくて |
| おもしろい | おもしろくて |
| かわいい | かわいくて |
| いい (irregular!) | よくて ✅ |
na-Adjectives (な形容詞)
For na-adjectives, drop the な and add で.
| Adjective | Te-form |
|---|---|
| しずかな | しずかで |
| きれいな | きれいで |
| しんせつな | しんせつで |
| にぎやかな | にぎやかで |
3. How to Use Nouns in Te-form Sentences
Nouns also use で to connect with other words.
| Noun | Te-form |
|---|---|
| 学生 | 学生で |
| 医者 | 医者で |
| アメリカ人 | アメリカ人で |
Example:
まなさんは十八歳で、日本人です。
= Mana is 18 years old and Japanese.
4. Real-World Examples
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 大阪は便利でにぎやかです。 | Osaka is convenient and lively. |
| エミさんは頭がよくてやさしいです。 | Emi is smart and kind. |
| ヤスミンさんはかわいくて親切です。 | Yasmin is cute and kind. |
| お母さんはおもしろくて元気です。 | My mother is funny and energetic. |
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t confuse い-adjective and な-adjective te-forms!
- 正しい: たかくて（❌たかで）
❗ Special case:
- いい → よくて
Not いいて or いいで!
6. Practice Time!
Try conjugating these into te-form:
| Word | Type | Te-form |
|---|---|---|
| かわいい | i-adjective | かわいくて |
| みじかい | i-adjective | みじかくて |
| 元気（げんき） | na-adjective | 元気で |
| 学生（がくせい） | noun | 学生で |
| 親切（しんせつ） | na-adjective | 親切で |
| 速い（はやい） | i-adjective | 速くて |
7. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhat’s the difference between “て-form” of verbs and adjectives?
- A
- Verb te-form: Used for actions (e.g., 食べて = eat and…)
- Adjective/Noun te-form: Used to link descriptions or states (e.g., しずかで = quiet and…)
- QCan I use more than two adjectives or nouns in one sentence?
- A
Yes! Just keep connecting with te-form:
東京は便利で、にぎやかで、楽しいです。
Tokyo is convenient, lively, and fun.
Conclusion
Using the te-form of adjectives and nouns helps you sound more natural and fluent in Japanese.
You’ll be able to:
✅ Describe people and places in detail
✅ Link multiple ideas smoothly
✅ Avoid sounding like a robot 😉
🎯 Practice time: Try describing your city or family using at least 2 adjectives!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
