Japanese Adjectives Kanji: 20 Essential Descriptive Words
Master the most common Japanese adjective kanji: 大 (big), 小 (small), 新 (new), 古 (old), 高 (high), 安 (cheap), 長 (long), 短 (short), 強 (strong), 弱 (weak), and more. Each entry includes readings, i-adjective vs na-adjective classification, and example sentences.
Japanese Adjectives at a Glance
Two Adjective Types
Japanese adjectives come in two types: i-adjectives (形容詞) like 大きい (big) that end in -い, and na-adjectives (形容動詞) like 静か (quiet) that use な before nouns. Each type conjugates differently: i-adjectives change their ending, while na-adjectives use です/だ.
Kanji + Okurigana
Most i-adjectives are written with a kanji root plus hiragana endings (okurigana). For example, 大きい uses kanji 大 for "big" and hiragana きい for the adjective ending. The okurigana changes when you conjugate: 大きくない (not big), 大きかった (was big).
Opposites Make Learning Easy
Japanese adjective kanji often come in natural pairs of opposites: 大/小 (big/small), 長/短 (long/short), 高/安 (expensive/cheap), 強/弱 (strong/weak). Learning them as pairs doubles your vocabulary and helps both meanings stick in your memory.
Core Japanese Adjective Kanji
These twenty adjective kanji are among the most frequently used in Japanese. Learn their readings and meanings to describe people, places, and things with confidence.
| Meaning | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big | 大 | おおきい | ookii | N5 |
| Small | 小 | ちいさい | chiisai | N5 |
| New | 新 | あたらしい | atarashii | N5 |
| Old (things) | 古 | ふるい | furui | N5 |
| High / Expensive | 高 | たかい | takai | N5 |
| Cheap / Safe | 安 | やすい | yasui | N5 |
| Long | 長 | ながい | nagai | N5 |
| Short (length) | 短 | みじかい | mijikai | N4 |
| Strong | 強 | つよい | tsuyoi | N4 |
| Weak | 弱 | よわい | yowai | N4 |
| Dark | 暗 | くらい | kurai | N4 |
| Bright | 明 | あかるい | akarui | N4 |
| Beautiful | 美 | うつくしい | utsukushii | N4 |
| Wide / Spacious | 広 | ひろい | hiroi | N4 |
| Near | 近 | ちかい | chikai | N4 |
| Far | 遠 | とおい | tooi | N4 |
| Early / Fast | 早 | はやい | hayai | N5 |
| Heavy | 重 | おもい | omoi | N4 |
| Light (weight) | 軽 | かるい | karui | N4 |
| Young | 若 | わかい | wakai | N4 |
All Japanese Adjective Kanji Explained
Explore each adjective kanji with its readings, origin story, conjugation type, and example sentences.
Example:
この犬は大きいですね。
Kono inu wa ookii desu ne.
This dog is big, isn't it?
Example:
小さい花がたくさん咲いている。
Chiisai hana ga takusan saite iru.
Many small flowers are blooming.
Example:
新しい靴を買いました。
Atarashii kutsu wo kaimashita.
I bought new shoes.
Example:
この寺は古いです。
Kono tera wa furui desu.
This temple is old.
Example:
あの山は高いです。
Ano yama wa takai desu.
That mountain is high.
Example:
このレストランは安くておいしい。
Kono resutoran wa yasukute oishii.
This restaurant is cheap and delicious.
Example:
日本の夏は長いです。
Nihon no natsu wa nagai desu.
Summers in Japan are long.
Example:
冬の日は短い。
Fuyu no hi wa mijikai.
Winter days are short.
Example:
この選手はとても強い。
Kono senshu wa totemo tsuyoi.
This athlete is very strong.
Example:
風邪で体が弱っている。
Kaze de karada ga yowatte iru.
My body is weak from a cold.
Example:
部屋が暗いので電気をつけてください。
Heya ga kurai node denki wo tsukete kudasai.
The room is dark, so please turn on the light.
Example:
明るい部屋が好きです。
Akarui heya ga suki desu.
I like bright rooms.
Example:
富士山は美しい山です。
Fujisan wa utsukushii yama desu.
Mount Fuji is a beautiful mountain.
Example:
新しい家は広いです。
Atarashii ie wa hiroi desu.
The new house is spacious.
Example:
駅は近いですか。
Eki wa chikai desu ka.
Is the station near?
Example:
学校は家から遠い。
Gakkou wa ie kara tooi.
The school is far from home.
Example:
明日は早く起きます。
Ashita wa hayaku okimasu.
I will wake up early tomorrow.
Example:
このかばんは重いですね。
Kono kaban wa omoi desu ne.
This bag is heavy, isn't it?
Example:
この箱は軽いです。
Kono hako wa karui desu.
This box is light.
Example:
彼はまだ若いです。
Kare wa mada wakai desu.
He is still young.
Japanese Adjective Types Explained
Understanding the two adjective types is essential for correct conjugation and grammar. Here's how they differ.
I-adjectives always end in -い in their dictionary form. They conjugate by changing the い ending. For example: 大きい → 大きくない (not big), 大きかった (was big), 大きくて (big and...). Most common descriptive words are i-adjectives.
Na-adjectives use な before nouns and behave more like nouns grammatically. They don't conjugate themselves; instead, the copula (です/だ) changes. For example: 静かな部屋 (quiet room), 静かではない (not quiet), 静かだった (was quiet).
Adjective Conjugation Patterns
Here's how the four most important conjugation forms work for i-adjectives and na-adjectives. Master these patterns to describe anything in present, past, and negative forms.
| Form | 大きい (big, i-adj) | 静かな (quiet, na-adj) |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 大きい | 静かだ |
| Polite present | 大きいです | 静かです |
| Negative (plain) | 大きくない | 静かではない |
| Polite negative | 大きくないです | 静かではありません |
| Past (plain) | 大きかった | 静かだった |
| Polite past | 大きかったです | 静かでした |
| Te-form (connecting) | 大きくて | 静かで |
| Before noun | 大きい犬 | 静かな部屋 |
Adjective Opposite Pairs (反対語)
Learning adjectives as opposite pairs is one of the most effective memorization strategies. Each pair reinforces the other's meaning.
| Kanji | Meaning | ↔️ | Kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大きい | Big (ookii) | ↔️ | 小さい | Small (chiisai) |
| 新しい | New (atarashii) | ↔️ | 古い | Old (furui) |
| 高い | High/Expensive (takai) | ↔️ | 安い | Cheap (yasui) |
| 長い | Long (nagai) | ↔️ | 短い | Short (mijikai) |
| 強い | Strong (tsuyoi) | ↔️ | 弱い | Weak (yowai) |
| 暗い | Dark (kurai) | ↔️ | 明るい | Bright (akarui) |
| 近い | Near (chikai) | ↔️ | 遠い | Far (tooi) |
| 重い | Heavy (omoi) | ↔️ | 軽い | Light (karui) |
Adjective Compound Words (Jukugo)
Adjective kanji combine with other kanji to create compound words that expand your vocabulary. These are some of the most useful compound words built from adjective kanji.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大学 | daigaku | University (big + study) |
| 小説 | shousetsu | Novel (small + theory) |
| 新聞 | shinbun | Newspaper (new + hear) |
| 古代 | kodai | Ancient times (old + era) |
| 高校 | koukou | High school (high + school) |
| 安全 | anzen | Safety (cheap/safe + complete) |
| 長所 | chousho | Strong point (long + place) |
| 短所 | tansho | Weak point (short + place) |
| 強力 | kyouryoku | Powerful (strong + power) |
| 明日 | ashita | Tomorrow (bright + day) |
| 美術 | bijutsu | Fine arts (beautiful + technique) |
| 広告 | koukoku | Advertisement (wide + announce) |
Tips for Learning Japanese Adjective Kanji
Learn in Opposite Pairs
The most efficient way to learn adjective kanji is as opposite pairs. When you learn 大きい (big), immediately learn 小さい (small). Your brain naturally associates contrasts, making both words stick much better than learning them individually.
Know Your I vs Na
Before using an adjective, always check if it's an i-adjective or na-adjective. Most adjectives ending in -い are i-adjectives, but some tricky ones like きれい (pretty) and 有名 (famous) are actually na-adjectives. Getting the type right is crucial for correct grammar.
Practice with Descriptions
Describe everything around you using adjective kanji. See a tall building? Say 高いビル (takai biru). Notice a small cat? 小さい猫 (chiisai neko). This constant practice builds the habit of thinking in Japanese adjectives naturally.
Use Flashcards with Images
Adjectives are perfect for visual learning. Associate each kanji with a vivid image: 大 with something enormous, 明 with a bright light, 重 with a heavy boulder. Our gamified card collection makes this easy: collect adjective cards into your personal Jisho.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between i-adjectives and na-adjectives in Japanese?
I-adjectives (形容詞) end in -い and conjugate by changing the ending: 大きい → 大きくない (not big), 大きかった (was big). Na-adjectives (形容動詞) use な before nouns and conjugate with the copula (です/だ): 静かな部屋 (quiet room), 静かではない (not quiet). Most kanji-based adjectives on this page are i-adjectives. A tricky exception: きれい (pretty) ends in -い but is actually a na-adjective.
How many adjective kanji do I need for JLPT N5?
For JLPT N5, you need about 10-15 adjective kanji. The essentials include 大 (big), 小 (small), 新 (new), 古 (old), 高 (high/expensive), 安 (cheap), 長 (long), 早 (early/fast), and 多 (many). These adjectives appear in nearly every N5 reading passage. All 20 adjectives on this page are N5 or N4 level, giving you a strong foundation for basic Japanese description.
What are the most useful Japanese adjectives to learn first?
Start with opposite pairs: 大きい/小さい (big/small), 高い/安い (expensive/cheap), 新しい/古い (new/old), 長い/短い (long/short), 暗い/明るい (dark/bright). These 10 adjectives cover most everyday descriptions. Then learn 強い/弱い (strong/weak), 近い/遠い (near/far), and 重い/軽い (heavy/light) for a solid foundation of 16 essential adjectives.
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