If you’ve already learned about い-adjectives, great job!
Now, let’s look at the other half of the adjective family, な-adjectives.

In Japanese, there are two main types of adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives.
Unlike い-adjectives, な-adjectives don’t end with い (though some words might look irregular…you’ll see later!).

That’s the biggest visual clue, い-adjectives end with い, while な-adjectives usually don’t.
Most な-adjectives are written entirely in kanji, or they end with sounds other than い.

These adjectives are super useful for describing states, personalities, and abstract qualities, things like “famous,” “convenient,” or “safe.”

Let’s explore how な-adjectives work and learn how to use them naturally in Japanese!

Irregular な-adjectives
Some な-adjectives may look like い-adjectives because they end with い, but don’t be fooled!
They’re special exceptions that still follow the な-adjective rules.

For example:
「きれい（綺麗）」(kirei) : beautiful / clean
「きらい（嫌い）」(kirai) : dislike
「ゆうめい（有名）」(yuumei) : famous

Even though these words end with い, they’re not い-adjectives.
When they come before a noun, remember to use that little な!

Examples:
綺麗な建物
きれい な たてもの
kirei na tatemono
A beautiful building

有名な観光地
ゆうめい な かんこうち
yuumei na kankouchi
Afamous tourist spot

な-adjectives → Noun
You can turn な-adjectives into nouns by adding 「さ」 to the stem.
This expresses the quality or degree of something.

Example:
「静か（しずか / shizuka）」 → 「静かさ」 : quiet → quietness
 

田舎の静かさ
いなか の しずかさ
inaka no shizukasa
The quietness of the countryside

な-adjectives → Adverb
To make adverbs from な-adjectives, simply add 「に」 at the end.
This helps you describe how something is done : like “quietly,” “safely,” or “easily.”

Example:
「簡単（かんたん / kantan）」 → 「簡単に」 : easily
 

ここから簡単に買うことができます。
ここ から かんたん に かう こと が できます 。
koko kara kantan ni kau koto ga dekimasu.
You can buy it easily from here.

あの先生は親切だ。
あの せんせい は しんせつ だ。
ano sensei ha shinsetsu da.
That teacher is kind.

彼はいつも元気です。
かれ は いつも げんき です。
kare ha itsumo genki desu.
He’s always energetic.

この道は安全じゃありません。
この みち は あんぜん じゃ ありません。
kono michi ha anzen ja arimasen.
This road is not safe.

この店のサービスは丁寧でした。
この みせ の さーびす は ていねい でした。
kono mise no saabisu ha teinei deshita.
The service at this shop was polite.

きれいな花を買いました。
きれい な はな を かいました。
kirei na hana wo kaimashita.
I bought beautiful flowers.

彼女は学生のとき真面目ではありませんでした。
かのじょ は がくせい の とき まじめ では ありません でした。
kanojo ha gakusei no toki majime dewa arimasen deshita.
She wasn’t serious when she was a student.

その歌手は有名じゃなかった。
その かしゅ は ゆうめい じゃなかった。
sono kashu ha yuumei janakatta.
That singer wasn’t famous.

• Grammar Point: な (na) -adjectives
• JLPT Level: N5
• Meaning: Adjectives that describe states, qualities, or characteristics, used with な before nouns
• Quick Explanation: な-adjectives are one of the two main types of adjectives in Japanese.
  They do not end with い (i), and when they come before a noun, they connect with な.
  By changing the ending, you can express tense (past/present) and polarity (positive/negative).
  
  

So that’s how we use な-adjectives!
They’re calm, elegant, and very Japanese in feeling, perfect for describing moods, situations, or people.

Now it’s your turn! Try using the な-adjectives you learned today to describe your surroundings or people in your life!

For example…
私の日本語の先生は親切です。
わたし の にほんご の せんせい は しんせつ です。
watashi no nihongo no sensei ha shinsetsu desu.
My Japanese teacher is kind.

(You mean me, right? haha)

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

Get Hikari's JLPT Mock Exams & Preparation Lessons!

Whether you are studying to pass the JLPT or looking for a challenge in your learning journey, these courses are perfect for you!