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PART 1 GENERAL REMARKS
1. Position of adjectives
Except numerals as "five","hundred",etc.,any adjective and adjective clause and phrase must be placed before the noun which they modify.
EX. [ English ] [ Japanese ]
five oranges = itsutsu orange or orange itsutsu
sweet oranges = ama-i orange
frsh oranges = shinsen-na orange
one hundred yen oranges = hyakuen-no orange
the oranges on the table = table no orange
the oranges there = soko-no orange
the oranges which Ms.Abe bought = Abe-san-ga ka-tta orange
NOTE:
We have no relative words such as "which","who",etc. which combine a noun and a clause or phrase modifying the noun.
Therefore,we don't have to say them in Japanese.
2. Why is a numeral placed also after the noun it belongs
See the following example with a numeral word "sukoshi(=some;a few;alittle)"
EX. Please buy some ripe apples.
When a numeral word such as "some","a little","a few",etc. precedes the noun which it modifies,it sometimes gives two ways of
translation as follows:
Sukoshi(=a little) juku-shta ringo-o ka-tte kudasai.
(=Please buy a little ripe apples.)
Juku-shta ringo-o sukoshi(=a few) ka-tte kudasai.
(=Please buy a few ripe apples.)
If you place "sukoshi" after the noun apples ,there is no confusion,that is to say,it means "a few" only.In order to avoid such a possible confusion,we normally place the numeral
after the noun it belongs to.
3. How to translate English adjective phrase and clause
Any word,an adjective or an adjective phrase or clause,which modifies a noun must be placed as a whole immediately before the noun.This is the definite rule of Japanese sentence structure.This is why Japanese has no distinction between the following two types of English.
EX. A red flower
(=aka-i hana)
A flower which is red = A which is red flower.
(=aka-i hana)
As mentioned in "NOTE" of 1,in Japannese,there is no relative pronoun such as "・・which・・" or "・・who・・".So "which"in the above second example must be crossed out. And a verb "be(=is)" can be left out.After all,inJapanese,there is no distinction between two
types as shown in the above example.
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PART 2 VARIOUS KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
A. True adjectives
(A) Type of true adjectives
These adjectives were made originally as adjectives.They consist of a root,which never changes its spelling in any case,and an ending "i",which changes according to cases.
EX. atsu-i(=hot) nemu-i(=sleepy) kura-i(=dark) yasu-i(=cheap)
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
[root] [ending] [root] [ending] [root] [ending] [root] [ending]
REMARK:
Many true adjectives have "shi-i" as their last part.
EX. atarashi-i(=new) fusawashi-i (=suitable;prpper) hazukashi-i (=ashamed)
isogashi-i(=busy) mezurashi-i (=rare;unusual) muzukashi-i(=difficult)
oishi-i (=delicious) suzushi-i (=cool) tanoshi-i (=enjoyable;happy)
yasashi-i (=easy) ureshi-i (=glad;happy) kurushi-i (=hard)
kanashi-i (=sad) urayamashi-i(=envious)
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(B) Conjugation of true adjectives
The conjugation of true adjectives is exceptional.It is quite different
from that of quasi-adjectives which are managed in the same way as nouns
and postpositions.
1. When used for nouns
Adjectives were made primarily for nouns.It is,therefore,very natural that
their ending is not changed when used immediately before nouns.
EX. Oishi-i meat pie-o tabe-mashta.
(=I ate a delicious meat pie.)
Atarashi-i keetai-o ka-i tai-des.
(=I want to buy a new cell phone.)
2. When used with "des"
In combination with "des",true adjectives also stay as they are.This is exceptional.Because "des" is an abbreviation of "de a-ri-mas";that is,"de" is a postposition which is usually used after a noun or a pronoun.Therefore,it
should not have been allowed to use it for true adjectives such as "oishi-i(=tasty)","yasu-i(=cheap)",etc.
EX. Kyoo-wa isogashi-i des.
(=I am busy today.)
Kono niku-wa kata-i des.
(=This meat is tough.)
3. Ending "i" is conjugated into "ku"
Except above two cases 1. and 2.,the ending of true adjectives "i" is conjugated into "ku".
EX. Kuruma-o yasu-ku ka-i-mashta.
(=I bought the car cheap.)
Chichi-wa mai-asa haya-ku oki-mas.
(=MY father gets up early every morning.)
4. Conjugation with "a-ru"
It is logically impossible to conjugate "des" because it is an abbreviation of "de a-ri-mas" as mentioned above 2. Because "de" is a postposition which we can not conjugate.Therefore,when we need to
conjugate,we should use "a-ru" instead of "des" as follows:
(1) True adjective + and
yasu-i des = be cheap → yasu-ku a-ru = be cheap → yasu-ku tte = be cheap and - SECTION 1
oishi-i des = be tasty → oishi-ku a-ru = be tasty → oishi-ku tte = be tasty and - SECTION 1
atsu-i des = be hot → atsu-ku a-ru = be hot → atsu-ku tte = be hot and - SECTION 1
The following show how this conjugation comes:
yasu-ku a-ru(=be cheap) → yasu-ku a-tte(=be cheap and) → From "a-tte","a" is left out. → yasu-ku tte or
yasu-ku te(=be cheap and)
oishi-ku a-ru(=be tasty) → oishi-ku a-tte(=be tasty and) → From "a-tte","a" is left out. → oishi-ku tte[ or
oishi-ku te](=be tasty and)
EX. Kono melon-wa yasu-ku tte oishi-i des.
(=This melon is cheap and tasty.)
Yumiko-no inu-wa chiisa-ku te kawai-i des.
(=Yumiko's dog is little and cute.)
(2) True adjective + mo(=Even if)
taka-i des = be expensive → taka-ku a-ru = be expensive → taka-ku a-tte mo = Even if it is expensive,・・ → taka-ku tte mo[ or taka-ku te mo ]= Even if it is expensive,・・
The following indicate how this conjugation comes.
taka-ku a-tte mo(Even if it is expensive,・・) → From "a-tte","a" is left out. → taka-ku tte mo[ or taka-ku temo](=Even if it is expensive,・・) [
EX. Taka-ku tte mo[ or Taka-ku te mo ],sono kutsu-o ka-i ta-des.
(=Even if they are expensive,I wish to buy the shoes.)
Isogashi-ku tte mo[ or Isogashi-ku te mo ],party ni i-ki-mas.
(=Even if I am busy,I will attend the party.)
(3) True adjective + wa(=If) - SECTION 1
taka-ku tte wa[ or taka-ku te wa ] = If it is expensive,・・
The following show how this conjugation comes.
taka-ku a-tte wa(=If it is expensive,・・) → From "a-tte","a" is left out. → taka-ku tte wa[ or taka-ku te wa ] (=If it is expensive,)
EX. Sono keetai-ga taka-ku tte wa,ka-u koto deki-masen.
(=If that cell phone is expensive,I can not buy it.)
Orange-ga suppa-ku te wa,kodomo-wa tabe-masen.
(=If the oranges are sour,the children don't eat.)
REMARK:
This "wa(=If)" is generally used for an undesirable case.
(4) True adjective + ba(=If) - SECTION 6
taka-kere ba = If it is expensive,・・
The following show how the above conjugation comes.
taka-ku a-re ba(=If it is expensive,・・) → "Ku a-re" is shortened to"kere" → taka-kere ba(=If it is expensive,)
EX. Sono kuruma-ga yasu-kere ba,ka-i tai-des.
(=If that car is cheap,I wish to buy it.)
Samu-kere ba,coat-o ki-ru hoo-ga-ii-des.
(=If you are cold,you had better wear your coat.)
(5) Past form of true adjective
By uniting the past form of "a-ru(=be)" with true adjectives,we can make their past form,that is,the past form"a-ru" and a true adjective can be fused into one.But when we close a sentence
with this form,it is not polite.Therefore,we suffix "des" to make it polite.
taka-ku a-ru(=be expensive) → Taka-ku a-tta(=It was expensive.) → "U" is left out from "ku". →
[SIMPLE PAST]
Taka-katta(=It was expensive.) → Taka-katta des.(=It was expensive.) - POLITE
EX. Kesa totemo samu-katta des.
(=It was very cold this morning.)
Kono kutsu-wa yasu-katta des.
(=These shoes were cheap.)
As you see in the following example,when used as an adjective being prefixed to a noun,needless to say,it is not impolite.
EX. Maeni taka-katta keetai-denwa-ga ima yasu-i-des.
(=The mobile phone which was expensive before is cheap noow.)
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(C) Other types of conjugation
In the following cases,the ending "i" makes different changes from the above mentioned ones.
1. Yasu-u gozai-mas - HUMBLE
In direct combination with "gozai-mas(=be)",a true adjective changes its ending "i" into "u".
EX. Ano resutoran no washoku-wa oishi-u gozai-mas.
(=The Japanese food at the restaurant is delicious.)
O-haya-u( or O-hayoo ) gozai-mas.
(=Good morning.)
Ari-gata-u( or Ari-gatoo ) gozai-mas.
(=Thank you.)
NOTE:
"Haya-u(=haya-i = early)" is pronounced as "hayoo".The whole literal meaning is "You are early."
"Gata-u(=gata-i = difficult )" is pronounced as "gatoo" as above."Ari-gata-i" means "difficult tohave
(=obtain)".The whole literal meaning is that it is hard to get such a thing as you gave me.
2. Haya-sa(=speed) - NOUN
By changing the ending "i" of true adjectives into "sa",you can make many nouns which correspond to the following English:
deep → depth; wide → width; true → truth
EX. fuka-i(=deep) → fuka-sa(=depth)
hiro-i(=wide) → hiro-sa(=width)
kata-i(=hard) → kata-sa(=hardness)
naga-i(=long) → naga-sa(=length)
ooki-i(=large) → ooki-sa(=size)
taka-i(=high) → taka-sa(=hight)
3. Ureshi-soo-na(=glad-looking;delightful) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
This is a quasi-adjective which came from a true adjective "ureshi-i(=happy)".
EX Watashi-wa Yumiko-no ureshi-soo-na kao-o mi-mashta.
(=I saw Yumiko's delightful look.)
Suzuki-san-wa itsumo ureshi-soo-ni hana-shi-mas.
(=Mr.Suzuki always talks delightfully.)
Masao-wa kyoo-wa ureshi-soo des.
(=Masao is glad-looking today.)
Waka-soo-na otoko-no hito-ga mukoo-ni ta-tte i-mas. - waka-i(=young)
(=A young-looking man is standing over there.)
Hiromi-wa attaka-soo-na coat-o ki-te i-mas. - attaka-i(=warm)
(=Hiromi is wearing a coat looking warm.)
Engine no chooshi-wa yo-sa-soo des. - yo-i(=good)
(=The condition of the engine is looking good.)
Reezooko ni dressing-wa na-sa-soo des.
(=It seems that there is not dressing in the fridge.)
NOTE:
"Yo-i(=good)" and "na-i(=not)" make a change different from othertrue adjectives when suffixed with "soo-na".
4. Ureshi-ga-ru(=be delighted) - Mostly used for the third person
"Ga-ru" inplies "feel","assume the air of","pretend to be",etc.,but it can not be used as an independent verb.
By suffixing "ga-ru" to some true adjectives -mostly emotional adjectives- we can make new
verbs.In this case the ending "i" must be left out.These verbs are usually used when the subject of sentence is the third
person.
EX. Yamada-san-wa atsu-ga-ri-mas. - atsu-i(=hot) → atsu-ga-ru
(=Mr.Yamada feels hot.)
Noda-san-wa biiru-o no-mi-tagatte i-mas. - no-mi ta-i(=want) → no-mi taga-ru
(=Mr.Noda wants beer now.)
5. Waru-sugi-ru(=be to bad)
By suffixing "sugi-ru(=exceed;pass away)" to true adjectives as well as quasi-adjectives and verbs,we can make new
verbs.But it must be combined only with a noun form.Therefore,we must leave
out the ending "i" in case of true adjrctives to make their noun form.
EX. Kono heya-wa atsu-sugi-mas.
(=This room is too hot.)
Ano hotel no haya-dai-wa taka-sugi-mas.
(=The rent for a room at the hotel is too expensive.)
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(D) Exceptional true adjectives
1. For the following true adjectives,we can use postpositions which are
generally used only for a noun and a pronoun.
EX. chika-i(=near) → chika-ku de or ni(=in;at) = about (here);near
→ chika-ku kara (=from) = near;close at hand
haya-i(=early) → haya-ku kara (=from) = early (in the morning)
oso-i (=late) → oso-ku made (=till) = till (late)
too-i (=far) → too-ku de (=in;at) = in (the distance)
→ too-ku e (=to) = to (a distance)
→ too-ku kara (=from) = from (a distance)
2. Some true adjectives are used in the type of quasi-adjectives
EX. chiisa-i(=small) → chiisa-na
mijika-i(=short) → mijika-na
ooki-i (=large) → ooki-na
NOTE:
For conjugation,their original type,that is,the true adjective type,is
used as follows:
EX. Ninjin-o chiisa-ku ki-ri-mashta.
(=I cut the carrots into small pieces.)
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(E) Ta-i (=desirous);Na-i (=not)
1. Ta-i (=desirous)
We can not use this independently.In other words,it is used only in combination
with a verb as is the case with the other Japanese auxiliary verbs.
EX. No-mi ta-ku-(t)te (=One wishes to drink and・・・)
No-mi ta-ku-(t)te mo (=Even if one wishes to drink・・・)
No-mi ta-kere ba (=If one wishes to drink・・・)
No-mi ta-katta des. (=One wished to drink・・・)
No-mi ta-u gozai-mas. (=One wishes to drink・・・)
No-mi ta-ga-ru. (=One wishes to drink・・・)
No-mi ta-soo-na (=It seems that one wishes to drink・・・)
2. Na-i (=not)
No-ma na-i. (=One does( or will ) not drink.) - VERB
Yasu-ku na-i. (=It is not cheap.) - TRUE ADJECTIVE
Kiree de na-i. (=It is not pretty.) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
Yumi de na-i. (=She is not Yumi.) - NOUN
No-ma na-ku-(t)te (=One does not drink and・・・) - VERB
Yasu-ku na-ku-(t)te (=It is not cheap and・・・) - TRUE ADJECTIVE
Kiree de na-ku-(t)te (=It is not pretty and・・・) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
Yumi de na-ku-(t)te (=She is not Yumi and・・・) - NOUN
No-ma na-ku(t)te mo (=Even if one does not drink・・・) - VERB
Yasu-ku na-ku-(t)te mo (=Even if it is not cheap・・・) - TRUE ADJECTIVE
Kiree de na-ku-(t)te mo (=Even if it is not pretty・・・) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
Yumi de na-ku-(t)te mo (=Even if she is not Yumi・・・) - NOUN
No-ma nakere ba (=If one does not drink・・・) - VERB
Yasu-ku nakere ba (=If it is not cheap・・・) - TRUE ADJECTIVE
Kiree de nakere ba (=If it is not pretty・・・) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
Yumi de nakere ba （=If she is not Yumi・・・) - NOUN
No-ma nakatta des. (=One did not drink.) - VERB
Yasu-ku nakatta des. (=It was not cheap.) - TRUE ADJECTIVE
Kiree de nakatta des. (=It was not pretty.) - QUASI-ADJECTIVE
Yumi de nakatta des. (=She was not Yumi.) - NOUN
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