Unit 6 - Section 3: Adjectives Modifying Nouns
na-adjectives (な-adjectives)
na-adjectives require な when modifying nouns but conjugate like nouns. Common adjectives describing qualities and states.
Basic Characteristics
Pattern: na-adjectives need な + noun
- きれい (kirei) - beautiful/clean
- 元気 (genki) - healthy/energetic
- 好き (suki) - like
- 嫌い (kirai) - dislike
- 丁寧 (teinei) - polite
- 簡単 (kantan) - easy
na-adjective Conjugation
| Form | Pattern | Example (きれい) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present (+) | です | きれいです | is beautiful |
| Present (-) | ではありません | きれいではありません | is not beautiful |
| Past (+) | でした | きれいでした | was beautiful |
| Past (-) | ではありませんでした | きれいではありませんでした | was not beautiful |
na-adjectives Modifying Nouns
Pattern: [na-adjective] + な + [Noun]
Use な between the adjective and noun
綺麗な花
[Kireina hana]
Translation: beautiful flower
元気な人
[Genki na hito]
Translation: energetic person
Common na-adjectives
Appearance & Quality:
綺麗
beautiful/clean (kirei)
大丈夫
okay/fine (daijoubu)
丁寧
polite (teinei)
Difficulty & Evaluation:
簡単
easy (kantan)
難しい
difficult (muzukashii) - i-adjective!
Health & Energy:
元気
healthy/energetic (genki)
Preference:
好き
like (suki)
嫌い
dislike (kirai)
Other:
有名
famous (yuumei)
重要
important (juuyou)
i-adjective vs na-adjective
| i-adjective | na-adjective |
|---|---|
| Ends in い | Does not end in い |
| 大きい家 | きれいな家 |
| No special connector | Needs な before noun |
| 古い → 古くない | きれい → きれいではない |
| 新しかった | 簡単でした |
Example Sentences
綺麗な公園です。
[Kireina kouen desu]
Translation: It's a beautiful park.
この問題は簡単ではありません。
[Kono mondai wa kantan de wa arimasen]
Translation: This problem is not easy.
元気な子どもが走っています。
[Genki na kodomo ga hashitte imasu]
Translation: An energetic child is running.
Study Tips
Master na-adjectives:
- Identify pattern: Most don't end in い (key difference from i-adjectives)
- Remember な: Always add な between adjective and noun
- Conjugate like nouns: Use です/ではない/でした patterns
- Common ones: Focus on きれい, 元気, 好き, 嫌い, 簡単, 大丈夫
- Create lists: Group by category for easier memorization
Course Navigation
Study Tips
- Read each example carefully
- Practice pronunciation aloud
- Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
- Finish the section quiz