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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.

MeaningKanjiHiraganaRomajiJLPT
Big大おおきいookiiN5
Small小ちいさいchiisaiN5
New新あたらしいatarashiiN5
Old (things)古ふるいfuruiN5
High / Expensive高たかいtakaiN5
Cheap / Safe安やすいyasuiN5
Long長ながいnagaiN5
Short (length)短みじかいmijikaiN4
Strong強つよいtsuyoiN4
Weak弱よわいyowaiN4
Dark暗くらいkuraiN4
Bright明あかるいakaruiN4
Beautiful美うつくしいutsukushiiN4
Wide / Spacious広ひろいhiroiN4
Near近ちかいchikaiN4
Far遠とおいtooiN4
Early / Fast早はやいhayaiN5
Heavy重おもいomoiN4
Light (weight)軽かるいkaruiN4
Young若わかいwakaiN4

All Japanese Adjective Kanji Explained

Explore each adjective kanji with its readings, origin story, conjugation type, and example sentences.

🏔️
大
Big
おおきい (ookii)
Origin: A person with arms outstretched wide, showing something large

Example:

この犬は大きいですね。

Kono inu wa ookii desu ne.

This dog is big, isn't it?

Type: I-adjective | 大きい → 大きくない (not big) → 大きかった (was big)
🐜
小
Small
ちいさい (chiisai)
Origin: Three small strokes dividing something into tiny parts

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.

Type: I-adjective | 小さい → 小さくない (not small) → 小さかった (was small)
✨
新
New
あたらしい (atarashii)
Origin: 立 (stand) + 木 (tree) + 斤 (axe): freshly cut wood standing upright, brand new

Example:

新しい靴を買いました。

Atarashii kutsu wo kaimashita.

I bought new shoes.

Type: I-adjective | 新しい → 新しくない (not new) → 新しかった (was new)
🏚️
古
Old (things)
ふるい (furui)
Origin: 十 (ten) + 口 (mouth): passed through ten mouths, told through generations

Example:

この寺は古いです。

Kono tera wa furui desu.

This temple is old.

Type: I-adjective | 古い → 古くない (not old) → 古かった (was old)
🗼
高
High / Expensive
たかい (takai)
Origin: Pictograph of a tall tower or elevated building with a roof

Example:

あの山は高いです。

Ano yama wa takai desu.

That mountain is high.

Type: I-adjective | 高い → 高くない (not high) → 高かった (was high)
💰
安
Cheap / Safe
やすい (yasui)
Origin: 宀 (roof) + 女 (woman): a woman safely under a roof, peaceful and inexpensive

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.

Type: I-adjective | 安い → 安くない (not cheap) → 安かった (was cheap)
📏
長
Long
ながい (nagai)
Origin: Pictograph of an elder with long flowing hair: something that extends far

Example:

日本の夏は長いです。

Nihon no natsu wa nagai desu.

Summers in Japan are long.

Type: I-adjective | 長い → 長くない (not long) → 長かった (was long)
📐
短
Short (length)
みじかい (mijikai)
Origin: 矢 (arrow) + 豆 (bean): as short as an arrow hitting a tiny bean

Example:

冬の日は短い。

Fuyu no hi wa mijikai.

Winter days are short.

Type: I-adjective | 短い → 短くない (not short) → 短かった (was short)
💪
強
Strong
つよい (tsuyoi)
Origin: 弓 (bow) + 虫 (insect): even a small insect can have the strength of a drawn bow

Example:

この選手はとても強い。

Kono senshu wa totemo tsuyoi.

This athlete is very strong.

Type: I-adjective | 強い → 強くない (not strong) → 強かった (was strong)
🥀
弱
Weak
よわい (yowai)
Origin: 弓 (bow) + 弓 (bow) with decorations: two ornamental bows, fragile and decorative

Example:

風邪で体が弱っている。

Kaze de karada ga yowatte iru.

My body is weak from a cold.

Type: I-adjective | 弱い → 弱くない (not weak) → 弱かった (was weak)
🌑
暗
Dark
くらい (kurai)
Origin: 日 (sun) + 音 (sound): when the sun is hidden, you can only hear sounds in the dark

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.

Type: I-adjective | 暗い → 暗くない (not dark) → 暗かった (was dark)
☀️
明
Bright
あかるい (akarui)
Origin: 日 (sun) + 月 (moon): sun and moon together, maximum brightness

Example:

明るい部屋が好きです。

Akarui heya ga suki desu.

I like bright rooms.

Type: I-adjective | 明るい → 明るくない (not bright) → 明るかった (was bright)
🌸
美
Beautiful
うつくしい (utsukushii)
Origin: 羊 (sheep) + 大 (big): a big, well-fed sheep was considered beautiful in ancient times

Example:

富士山は美しい山です。

Fujisan wa utsukushii yama desu.

Mount Fuji is a beautiful mountain.

Type: I-adjective | 美しい → 美しくない (not beautiful) → 美しかった (was beautiful)
🏟️
広
Wide / Spacious
ひろい (hiroi)
Origin: 广 (cliff/building) + ム (arm): an open space as wide as a building's reach

Example:

新しい家は広いです。

Atarashii ie wa hiroi desu.

The new house is spacious.

Type: I-adjective | 広い → 広くない (not wide) → 広かった (was wide)
📍
近
Near
ちかい (chikai)
Origin: 辶 (road) + 斤 (axe): as close as an axe by the road, within arm's reach

Example:

駅は近いですか。

Eki wa chikai desu ka.

Is the station near?

Type: I-adjective | 近い → 近くない (not near) → 近かった (was near)
🔭
遠
Far
とおい (tooi)
Origin: 辶 (road) + 袁 (long robe): walking a long road in flowing robes, a distant journey

Example:

学校は家から遠い。

Gakkou wa ie kara tooi.

The school is far from home.

Type: I-adjective | 遠い → 遠くない (not far) → 遠かった (was far)
⏰
早
Early / Fast
はやい (hayai)
Origin: 日 (sun) + 十 (ten): the sun at the ten o'clock position, still early in the day

Example:

明日は早く起きます。

Ashita wa hayaku okimasu.

I will wake up early tomorrow.

Type: I-adjective | 早い → 早くない (not early) → 早かった (was early)
🏋️
重
Heavy
おもい (omoi)
Origin: 千 (thousand) + 里 (village): the weight of carrying goods across a thousand villages

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?

Type: I-adjective | 重い → 重くない (not heavy) → 重かった (was heavy)
🪶
軽
Light (weight)
かるい (karui)
Origin: 車 (car/vehicle) + 巠 (stream): a vehicle flowing light as a stream

Example:

この箱は軽いです。

Kono hako wa karui desu.

This box is light.

Type: I-adjective | 軽い → 軽くない (not light) → 軽かった (was light)
👶
若
Young
わかい (wakai)
Origin: 艹 (grass) + 右 (right hand): picking fresh young grass with the right hand

Example:

彼はまだ若いです。

Kare wa mada wakai desu.

He is still young.

Type: I-adjective | 若い → 若くない (not young) → 若かった (was young)

Japanese Adjective Types Explained

Understanding the two adjective types is essential for correct conjugation and grammar. Here's how they differ.

🟢
I-Adjectives (形容詞)
keiyoushi: "true" adjectives

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.

大きい ookii高い takai長い nagai強い tsuyoi早い hayai
🔵
Na-Adjectives (形容動詞)
keiyoudoushi: "adjectival nouns"

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).

静かな shizuka na有名な yuumei na元気な genki na簡単な kantan na

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.

KanjiMeaning↔️KanjiMeaning
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.

CompoundReadingMeaning
大学daigakuUniversity (big + study)
小説shousetsuNovel (small + theory)
新聞shinbunNewspaper (new + hear)
古代kodaiAncient times (old + era)
高校koukouHigh school (high + school)
安全anzenSafety (cheap/safe + complete)
長所choushoStrong point (long + place)
短所tanshoWeak point (short + place)
強力kyouryokuPowerful (strong + power)
明日ashitaTomorrow (bright + day)
美術bijutsuFine arts (beautiful + technique)
広告koukokuAdvertisement (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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