な-Adjectives: Basicsな形容詞
な-adjectives (な形容詞, also called 形容動詞 keiyoudoushi) are the second major adjective type in Japanese. Unlike い-adjectives, they require な when modifying a noun and conjugate using だ/じゃない/だった/じゃなかった — the same pattern as nouns. Many な-adjectives are borrowed from Chinese (漢語) or other languages.
な-adjectives (な形容詞, also called 形容動詞 keiyoudoushi) are the second major adjective type in Japanese. Unlike い-adjectives, they require な when modifying a noun and conjugate using だ/じゃない/だった/じゃなかった — the same pattern as nouns. Many な-adjectives are borrowed from Chinese (漢語) or other languages.
What are な-adjectives?
な-adjectives describe qualities just like い-adjectives, but they behave grammatically more like nouns. Their key distinguishing feature: they attach な before a noun (静かな部屋 = quiet room). In predicate position, they use だ (plain) or です (polite): この部屋は静かだ / 静かです. Many な-adjectives come from Chinese-origin words (漢語), which is why they often consist of two kanji: 元気, 便利, 有名, 親切.
40 essential な-adjectives
Daily life: 元気 (genki, healthy/energetic), 大丈夫 (daijoubu, okay/fine), 大変 (taihen, tough/serious), 大切 (taisetsu, important), 必要 (hitsuyou, necessary), 便利 (benri, convenient), 不便 (fuben, inconvenient). People: 親切 (shinsetsu, kind), 丁寧 (teinei, polite/careful), 素敵 (suteki, lovely), 真面目 (majime, serious/diligent), 上手 (jouzu, skilled), 下手 (heta, unskilled). Places/things: 静か (shizuka, quiet), 賑やか (nigiyaka, lively), きれい (kirei, clean/beautiful), 有名 (yuumei, famous), 立派 (rippa, splendid). Feelings: 好き (suki, liked), 嫌い (kirai, disliked), 心配 (shinpai, worried), 残念 (zannen, regrettable). State: 簡単 (kantan, simple), 複雑 (fukuzatsu, complex), 特別 (tokubetsu, special), 自由 (jiyuu, free).
Spotting な-adjectives
If an adjective does NOT end in い, it is almost certainly a な-adjective. If it ends in い but is on the exception list (きれい, 嫌い, etc.), it is also な. Dictionaries mark な-adjectives with [な] or [形動]. When in doubt, try putting it before a noun — if it needs な, it is a な-adjective.
Using な-adjectives in sentences
な-adjectives have three main uses: Predicate: この町は静かだ (This town is quiet — plain) / 静かです (polite). Noun modifier: 静かな町 (a quiet town). With particles: 静かにする (to become/make quiet — adverbial). Note that in predicate position, な-adjectives use だ (not い or nothing). This is the opposite of い-adjectives, which never use だ.
Example sentences
彼女はとても親切だ。
Kanojo wa totemo shinsetsu da.
She is very kind.
な-adjective as predicate with だ (plain)
静かな場所で勉強したい。
Shizuka na basho de benkyou shitai.
I want to study in a quiet place.
な before noun
この辞書はとても便利です。
Kono jisho wa totemo benri desu.
This dictionary is very convenient.
Polite predicate with です
有名なレストランに行った。
Yuumei na resutoran ni itta.
I went to a famous restaurant.
な-adjective + な + noun
日本語の文法は複雑だ。
Nihongo no bunpou wa fukuzatsu da.
Japanese grammar is complex.
Two-kanji な-adjective (漢語 origin)
大丈夫ですか？
Daijoubu desu ka?
Are you okay?
Very common な-adjective in daily conversation
Common mistakes
静かい (shizukai)
静かだ / 静かです
な-adjectives do not end in い in predicate form. They use だ (plain) or です (polite). Adding い makes it look like an い-adjective, which it is not.
元気の人
元気な人
な-adjectives use な (not の) when modifying nouns. Using の would make it a noun-の-noun construction with a different meaning.
きれい花
きれいな花
きれい is a な-adjective despite ending in い. It requires な before a noun: きれいな花 (beautiful flower).
Frequently asked questions
Why are they called "な-adjectives"?
Because they require the particle な when placed before a noun: 静か**な**部屋, 元気**な**人. This な is the key marker that distinguishes them from い-adjectives, which attach directly without any particle.
Are な-adjectives and 形容動詞 the same thing?
Yes. 形容動詞 (keiyoudoushi, "adjectival noun") is the traditional Japanese grammar term. な-adjective (な形容詞) is the term used in Japanese-as-a-foreign-language education. They refer to the same word class.
Can な-adjectives be used with とても and すごく?
Absolutely. とても静かだ (very quiet), すごく便利だ (incredibly convenient). Degree adverbs work with both い and な-adjectives the same way.
How does 静か modify a noun?