Japanese adjectives

Usually written in kana; the opposite is まずい.

The same kanji read つらい means hard or painful.

Before a noun, "nearby" is usually 近(ちか)くの: 近(ちか)くの店(みせ).

The part that hurts takes が.

For the weather, a room or how hot you feel. A hot drink is 熱(あつ)い — the same sound, another kanji.

For the air; warm food or a warm heart is written 温(あたた)かい.

For water, drinks, rain or a hand; cold air is 寒(さむ)い.

Often written in kana. A different word from 優(やさ)しい, kind, though it sounds the same.

Not for a person's age: an older person is 年(とし)を取(と)った人(ひと). 古(ふる)い友達(ともだち) is a friend of long standing.

The opposite of high is 低(ひく)い; of expensive, 安(やす)い.

A short person is 背(せ)が低(ひく)い; short in length is 短(みじか)い.

Its other forms are built on よい: よくない, よかった.

What is liked takes が, not を.

A na-adjective despite the final い: 嫌(きら)いな食(た)べ物(もの). Saying it of food someone offers you sounds harsh.

Both pretty and clean, and a na-adjective: きれいな花(はな).

Usually written in kana.

Not used straight before a noun: "many people" is 多(おお)くの人(ひと) or たくさんの人(ひと).

Early in time; fast in speed is written 速(はや)い.

Covers both late and slow.

Said of the experience; 楽(たの)しかったです is how you say you enjoyed yourself.

Anything that holds your attention, whether it makes you laugh or not.

〜に弱(よわ)い is being poor at coping with something.

Usually written in kana.

Also a polite "no, thank you": offered a bag in a shop, 大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)です usually means you do not need one.

Used of other people; saying it of yourself sounds boastful.

Goes straight before a noun, without な: 同(おな)じ色(いろ).

Also shouted as a warning: 危(あぶ)ない！, look out!

Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling is 色々(いろいろ).

Short in length or time; a short person is 背(せ)が低(ひく)い.

For things round in section — a pen, a line, an arm; a thick book is 厚(あつ)い.

Warm weather is 暖(あたた)かい: the same sound, a different kanji.

Hot weather is 暑(あつ)い: the same sound, a different kanji.

Blunt; あまりおいしくない is the kinder way to say it.

An adjective in Japanese, so what is wanted takes が.

Before an adjective it simply means "very": 大変(たいへん)忙(いそが)しい.

Kind in what someone does for others; 優(やさ)しい is gentle by nature.

Thin paper, a pale colour, weak coffee; the opposite is 厚(あつ)い for thickness and 濃(こ)い for colour and taste.

Sounds like 暑(あつ)い, hot, and is written differently.

Often written in kana: うれしい.

Means both "frightening" and "I am frightened"; the sentence decides which.

More immediate than 嫌(きら)い, "to dislike": it is the feeling of not wanting something now.

A lasting happiness; 嬉(うれ)しい is the gladness of a moment.

Not to be mixed up with かわいい, "cute".

Also "severe": ひどい雨(あめ), a terrible downpour.

無理(むり)しないでください, "don't overdo it", is a kind thing to say.

As a greeting: お久(ひさ)しぶりです, long time no see.

Same kanji as 十分(じゅっぷん), ten minutes; the context decides.

Used with に, or straight before a verb: 一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい)に働(はたら)く.

More formal than 危(あぶ)ない; seen on signs.

Sounds the same as 易(やさ)しい, easy; in writing the kanji tell them apart.

The same word as a bright room; used of people it means outgoing and sunny.

Saying someone has a 暗(くら)い character is blunt; be careful with it.

More formal than きれい; used of scenery, music and language.

Also "fussy": お金(かね)に細(こま)かい, careful with every yen.

Also written 固(かた)い (firm, fixed) and 堅(かた)い (solid, serious); the sound is the same.

Said straight to a person it means "shut up" — rude.

Funny as in laughable, and more often funny as in something is wrong.

Neither good nor bad by itself: すごい雨(あめ) is a downpour.

Often a noun: 急(いそ)ぐ必要(ひつよう)はない, "there is no need to hurry".

お大事(だいじ)に is what you say to someone who is ill.

Also an adverb, "normally": 普通(ふつう)は歩(ある)いて行(い)く.

Same kanji as 楽(たの)しい, but a different word: 楽(らく) means "without effort".

Softer than 下手(へた) or 嫌(きら)い, and the polite way of saying either.

About yourself, 得意(とくい) is natural where 上手(じょうず) would sound like boasting.

Not 大丈夫(だいじょうぶ), "all right", though it shares two kanji with it.

Past tense かっこよかった, like いい.

Also "creepy" or "disgusting"; the context decides.

The polite いい; よろしいですか asks for agreement or permission.

What is missed is the subject: 家族(かぞく)が恋(こい)しい, "I miss my family".

Also written 辛(つら)い — the same kanji as 辛(から)い, "spicy".

Free as in unconstrained; free of charge is 無料(むりょう).

Usually praise in Japanese; on its own it does not suggest dullness the way "serious" can.

正直(しょうじき)に言(い)うと is the standard way to soften a frank opinion.

Usually written in kana.

Someone who accepts things without resistance or pretence; praise for a child, a pupil or an employee.

Said by someone older about someone younger who forgets their place.

Both polite in manner and careful in execution.

Also said of someone awkward with people or with feelings.

Serious about a particular thing right now; 真面目(まじめ) describes the person in general.

いい加減(かげん)にしなさい means "that is enough!"

Said about money, food, time or talent going to waste.

Everyday and a little self-mocking; the social problem is 貧困(ひんこん).

Frustration at losing or failing, usually with the wish to do better next time.

A pleasant feeling, not sadness: 懐(なつ)かしい！ is a cheerful "that takes me back!"

Often said openly and lightly, as a compliment; often written in kana.

A vague unease about what may happen; worrying about a particular thing is 心配(しんぱい).

Also a verb: 満足(まんぞく)する, with に.

In speech often 面倒(めんどう)くさい. 面倒(めんどう)を見(み)る is to look after someone.

The feeling of having nobody to rely on.

A sad, aching feeling, often about love or partings.

Being alone, as a state; 寂(さび)しい is the everyday feeling.

Something you cannot explain, often with a note of wonder.

Often 意外(いがい)に or 意外(いがい)と: surprisingly.

Sympathy for someone else; お気(き)の毒(どく)に is the set phrase.

Describes something you are thankful for, not just the person; usually written in kana.

Disappointment in yourself or someone else for falling below what is expected.

The opposite is 抽象的(ちゅうしょうてき), abstract.

Also an adverb: 当然(とうぜん)反対(はんたい)した.

Of a person, "knows a lot about": 歴史(れきし)に詳(くわ)しい.

Praise for effort, often to children; 偉(えら)い人(ひと) is someone high up.

Serious and rather written; in conversation お金(かね)がない or 貧乏(びんぼう).

Said when something only just failed.

As an ending it means "smacks of": 面倒(めんどう)くさい, 古(ふる)くさい.

Stronger and more written than 怖(こわ)い.

Usually said めんどくさい.

Also 仕方(しかた)がない and, in speech, しょうがない.

Also a modest reply to thanks or praise: とんでもないです, "not at all".

Like 重(おも)い, but about how heavy it feels; also of a mood.

〜っぽい after a verb stem means "tends to": 怒(おこ)りっぽい, quick to anger.

Close to 眠(ねむ)い; a little softer and more conversational.

Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 眩(まぶ)しい is rare.

Of a person it means naive; simple design is シンプル.

More formal than 大事(だいじ); for decisions and facts rather than possessions.

In conversation it more often means "whatever will do": 適当(てきとう)に答(こた)える.

勝手(かって)に is "without asking"; 勝手(かって)な人(ひと) is a selfish person.

Also a verb, 贅沢(ぜいたく)する: to treat yourself, or to waste money.

急(きゅう)に is "suddenly"; 急(きゅう)な坂(さか) is a steep slope.

A little more formal than いろいろ.

The opposite is 正常(せいじょう).

As a noun also a death in the family: ご不幸(ふこう).

Everyday speech; 塩辛(しおから)い is the more written word.

Also a noun: おしゃれをする, to dress up.

きれい can mean pretty or clean; 清潔(せいけつ) only clean.

Often written in kana, ゆるい; of rules, lax.

Also of work or a schedule: hard, punishing.

Also a noun; the opposite is 幸運(こううん).

Also an adverb: 散々(さんざん)待(ま)たされた, kept waiting for ages.

Also written 痒(かゆ)い. Mosquitoes "sting" in Japanese: 刺(さ)す.

〜っぽい means "-ish": like a fever, not yet a measured one.

Literally "cold on the skin": cool enough to want another layer, not truly cold.

As an adverb, 余計(よけい)に means "all the more".

For changes: 大幅(おおはば)な値下(ねさ)げ, a big price cut.

Also "ordinary": 当(あ)たり前(まえ)の生活(せいかつ), everyday life.

Also written スムース.

Usually written in kana; children often use it to mean “not fair!”.

The opposite is 無効(むこう).

Often written in kana: むなしい.

A strong word; the verb is 憎(にく)む.

The root of おめでとう.

Also of a person: someone who rarely gets angry.

A written word; in conversation 新(あたら)しい.

In conversation a polite way of saying "not great".

Also of tears rolling down: 涙(なみだ)がぼろぼろこぼれる.

Mostly with だ or になる: へとへとになる, to be worn out.

Unusual in an interesting or funny way, not strictly "one of a kind".

Of a blade, but just as often of a mind, an eye or a pain.

The opposite of 鋭(するど)い; also of a person slow to notice things.

Of something that only just went one way: a result, a remark, a timing.

Written language; most often as the adverb 著(いちじる)しく.