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Tag: Japanese Adjectives
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〜くて／〜で (Connecting adjectives/verbs) in Japanese | My Language Classes
Mastering 〜くて and 〜で in Japanese Grammar
Learning how to connect thoughts smoothly in Japanese can transform your speaking and writing skills. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I join two Japanese sentences naturally?” or “What’s the difference between 〜くて and 〜で?”, then you’re in the right place. These powerful Japanese grammar connectors — 〜くて and 〜で — are used in everyday conversation to link ideas, express feelings, and describe actions with flow and fluency.
Whether you’re a beginner curious about simple sentence structures or an intermediate learner aiming to speak more naturally, mastering 〜くて and 〜で is a must. These small connectors carry big meaning! They help you express “and,” “because,” “so,” and other subtle transitions that make your Japanese sound native-like.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn:
- What 〜くて and 〜で mean and how they work
- When and where to use them correctly
- All the conjugation and grammar rules
- Tons of everyday examples and practice sentences with English and romaji
- Tips to avoid common mistakes and sound more fluent
So grab your notebook — it’s time to connect your Japanese sentences like a pro!
What Are 〜くて and 〜で in Japanese? Explanation and Overview
In Japanese, when you want to connect two or more ideas in a single sentence — especially when describing things or linking actions — you often use 〜くて and 〜で. These grammar forms act like the word “and” in English, but they do much more than just connect words. They help your speech flow naturally, sound more native, and express complex thoughts smoothly.
🧠 The Core Idea
- 〜くて is used to connect い-adjectives and some verb-related expressions.
- 〜で is used with な-adjectives, nouns, and some verbs.
Let’s look at this in a simple way:
Base Word Connection Form Type English Meaning おいしい (delicious) おいしくて い-adjective delicious and… しずか (quiet) しずかで な-adjective quiet and… 先生 (teacher) 先生で Noun is a teacher and… 行く (to go) 行って Verb (te-form) went and… / and then… These connectors show relationship between two parts of a sentence:
- Adding information: “It’s cold and windy.”
- Showing cause: “I was sick, so I stayed home.”
- Describing actions: “I woke up and brushed my teeth.”
Think of 〜くて and 〜で as bridges that connect your thoughts, actions, and feelings into one smooth sentence.
Why They Matter
When you’re speaking Japanese, you don’t always want to stop at one sentence. You want to keep going — describe more, explain why, or tell what happened next. That’s where 〜くて and 〜で shine. Instead of short, choppy phrases, you’ll sound fluent and clear.
Let’s break it down with the types of words they connect in upcoming sections — but first, let’s look at how these work in real life.
Everyday Sentences Using 〜くて and 〜で: 10 Common Examples
Understanding grammar is good — but seeing it in action makes it real. Below are 10 daily life Japanese sentences where 〜くて or 〜で help connect two ideas naturally. Each example shows how you can use these connectors in conversation, storytelling, or simple descriptions.
1. 今日は寒くて、風が強いです。
Kyō wa samukute, kaze ga tsuyoi desu.
It’s cold today, and the wind is strong.❄️ Use of 〜くて to link two い-adjectives (cold + strong).
2. このケーキは甘くて、おいしいです。
Kono kēki wa amakute, oishii desu.
This cake is sweet and delicious.🍰 Here, 〜くて joins two tasty い-adjectives again.
3. 部屋は静かで、きれいです。
Heya wa shizuka de, kirei desu.
The room is quiet and clean.🧹 〜で is used to connect two な-adjectives (shizuka and kirei).
4. 山田さんは親切で、明るい人です。
Yamada-san wa shinsetsu de, akarui hito desu.
Mr. Yamada is kind and cheerful.☀️ A combination of a な-adjective and an い-adjective connected with 〜で and structure.
5. 昨日は雨で、試合が中止になりました。
Kinō wa ame de, shiai ga chūshi ni narimashita.
It rained yesterday, so the game was canceled.🌧️ 〜で shows a cause-effect relationship using a noun (rain).
6. 彼は先生で、日本語も上手です。
Kare wa sensei de, Nihongo mo jōzu desu.
He is a teacher, and he’s also good at Japanese.👨🏫 Noun + 〜で to describe someone’s profession and skill.
7. 駅は大きくて、にぎやかです。
Eki wa ōkikute, nigiyaka desu.
The station is big and lively.🚉 〜くて joins an い-adjective (big) with a な-adjective (lively).
8. 朝起きて、シャワーを浴びました。
Asa okite, shawā o abimashita.
I woke up and took a shower.⏰ This is a verb te-form, not an adjective, but shows how similar connectors apply.
9. このかばんは高くて、買えません。
Kono kaban wa takakute, kaemasen.
This bag is expensive, so I can’t buy it.💸 〜くて links a reason (expensive) to a result (can’t buy).
10. あの人は有名で、お金持ちです。
Ano hito wa yūmei de, okanemochi desu.
That person is famous and rich.🌟 Another な-adjective and noun connected with 〜で.
These sentences show just how useful 〜くて and 〜で are in real, everyday Japanese. Whether you’re describing a person, an event, or how something feels — these connectors are your best friend.
When to Use 〜くて and 〜で in Japanese: All the Key Situations
In Japanese, we use 〜くて and 〜で to connect thoughts naturally and smoothly — but the way we use them depends on the type of word (い-adjective, な-adjective, noun, or verb) and the context (description, reason, action, etc.).
Here’s a simple, categorized guide to when and how to use these grammar forms correctly:
🔹 1. Connecting Two い-Adjectives → Use 〜くて
When joining two い-adjectives, the first one changes to 〜くて.
Example:
おいしくてやすい (delicious and cheap)📝 Use when:
- Describing things with multiple い-adjective qualities
- Talking about food, weather, people, objects, etc.
🔹 2. Connecting Two な-Adjectives → Use 〜で
When linking two な-adjectives, the first one becomes 〜で.
Example:
しずかでべんり (quiet and convenient)📝 Use when:
- Describing feelings, environment, or objects with な-adjectives
- Talking about a person’s personality or atmosphere
🔹 3. Connecting a な-Adjective + い-Adjective → Use 〜で
You can also mix a な-adjective (first) with an い-adjective (second). Use 〜で for the な-adjective.
Example:
しんせつでおもしろい (kind and interesting)📝 Use when:
- Describing people or places with mixed adjective types
🔹 4. Connecting Noun + Adjective → Use 〜で
When a noun comes first, use 〜で to link it to the next word or phrase.
Example:
学生でまじめです (is a student and serious)📝 Use when:
- Talking about professions, identity, or characteristics
🔹 5. Connecting Two Verbs (Sequential Actions) → Verb in 〜て-form
Though not exactly 〜くて or 〜で, this is closely related. You use the て-form of a verb to connect two actions in sequence.
Example:
起きて、朝ごはんを食べます (I wake up and eat breakfast)📝 Use when:
- Talking about what you did or will do in order
- Sharing a routine or storytelling
🔹 6. Showing Reason or Cause → 〜くて / 〜で
Sometimes, 〜くて and 〜で also show a reason or cause like “because…” or “so…”.
Examples:
- 疲れて、ねました (I was tired, so I slept)
- 高くて、買えませんでした (It was expensive, so I couldn’t buy it)
📝 Use when:
- Explaining why something happened
- Describing emotional or physical reasons
🔹 7. Showing Result or Outcome → 〜くて / 〜で
Closely tied to cause and effect, these connectors also help show results that came from the first condition.
Examples:
- 雨で、試合が中止になった (It rained, so the game was canceled)
- 忙しくて、行けませんでした (I was busy, so I couldn’t go)
📝 Use when:
- One event leads directly to another
- Expressing inability, emotions, or changes
🔹 8. Polite Explanations and Flowing Speech
Using 〜くて and 〜で makes your Japanese sound natural and polite. Instead of using short, robotic sentences, you blend ideas gracefully.
📝 Use when:
- You want to speak smoothly and sound more fluent
- Writing essays, making presentations, or having thoughtful conversations
By learning where and when to use 〜くて and 〜で, you’ll make your Japanese flow like a native speaker’s. You won’t just say words — you’ll connect them, tell stories, and express yourself better.
All the Conjugation Rules for 〜くて and 〜で in Japanese
To use 〜くて and 〜で effectively, you need to know how to change (conjugate) adjectives, nouns, and verbs into the correct form for sentence connection. Let’s go through each case step by step — with clear formulas, examples, romaji, and translations to help you build confidence.
🔹 1. い-Adjectives → Drop い and Add 〜くて
✅ Rule: Remove the い from the end of the い-adjective and add 〜くて.
Formula:
い-adjective → (remove い) + くてExamples:
Japanese Romaji English あつい → あつくて atsui → atsukute hot → hot and… さむい → さむくて samui → samukute cold → cold and… おいしい → おいしくて oishii → oishikute delicious → delicious and… たのしい → たのしくて tanoshii → tanoshikute fun → fun and…
🔹 2. な-Adjectives → Add 〜で
✅ Rule: Keep the な-adjective root (without な) and just add 〜で.
Formula:
な-adjective (root) + でExamples:
Japanese Romaji English しずか → しずかで shizuka → shizukade quiet → quiet and… きれい → きれいで kirei → kireide beautiful → beautiful and… べんり → べんりで benri → benride convenient → convenient and… ゆうめい → ゆうめいで yuumei → yuumeide famous → famous and… 📝 Note: な is dropped when you use 〜で.
🔹 3. Nouns → Add 〜で
✅ Rule: Just add 〜で directly to the noun.
Formula:
Noun + でExamples:
Japanese Romaji English せんせい → せんせいで sensei → senseide teacher → (is a) teacher and… 学生 → 学生で gakusei → gakuseide student → (is a) student and… 日本人 → 日本人で nihonjin → nihonjinde Japanese person → and… 医者 → 医者で isha → ishide doctor → doctor and…
🔹 4. Verbs (〜て-form)
Even though this blog focuses on 〜くて and 〜で, it’s helpful to remember how verbs are connected using the 〜て-form. This is because 〜くて and 〜で function similarly by linking ideas smoothly.
✅ Rule: Change the verb into its て-form.
Examples:
Dictionary Form て-form Romaji English 食べる 食べて taberu → tabete eat → eat and… 行く 行って iku → itte go → go and… 話す 話して hanasu → hanashite speak → speak and… 書く 書いて kaku → kaite write → write and… 📝 You can use these to connect verbs just like you use 〜くて and 〜で to connect adjectives and nouns.
🔹 5. Negative い-Adjectives → Change to 〜なくて
✅ Rule: Negative い-adjectives in the 〜くない form drop い and add 〜くて (becoming 〜なくて).
Formula:
〜くない → 〜なくてExamples:
Negative Adjective 〜なくて Form Romaji English おいしくない → おいしくなくて oishikunai → oishikunakute not delicious → not delicious and… たかくない → たかくなくて takakunai → takakunakute not expensive → not expensive and… おもしろくない → おもしろくなくて omoshirokunai → omoshirokunakute not interesting → not interesting and…
🔹 6. Negative Verbs → Use 〜なくて Form
✅ Rule: Change the verb to its plain negative form (〜ない), then replace 〜ない with 〜なくて.
Formula:
Verb (〜ない form) → (drop 〜ない) + 〜なくてExamples:
Negative Verb 〜なくて Form Romaji English 行かない → 行かなくて ikanai → ikanakute not go → didn’t go and… 食べない → 食べなくて tabenai → tabenakute not eat → didn’t eat and… しない → しなくて shinai → shinakute not do → didn’t do and… 来ない → 来なくて konai → konakute not come → didn’t come and…
✅ Quick Summary Table
Type Rule Ending い-adjective Drop い + くて 〜くて な-adjective Keep root + で 〜で Noun Noun + で 〜で Verb Change to て-form 〜て Negative い-adjective 〜くない → 〜なくて 〜なくて Negative verb 〜ない → 〜なくて 〜なくて
By following these rules, you can easily build longer sentences, add natural flow, and sound much more fluent in Japanese. Understanding these conjugations is the key to expressing more ideas with fewer pauses!
🌟 〜くて／〜で Grammar Rules You Need to Know
Whether you’re connecting ideas or describing multiple qualities, understanding how 〜くて and 〜で work grammatically is crucial for fluency. Here’s a breakdown of the core rules and patterns you must follow.
🧠 Rule #1: Use 〜くて to Connect い-Adjectives
When connecting two い-adjectives, use the 〜くて form for the first adjective and keep the second adjective in plain form.
Pattern:
い-adjective (drop い + くて) + second い-adjectiveExample:
このカレーはからくておいしいです。
Kono karee wa karakute oishii desu.
This curry is spicy and delicious.
🧠 Rule #2: Use 〜で to Connect な-Adjectives and Nouns
Use 〜で to connect な-adjectives or nouns in a sentence. The second word (adjective or verb) follows in its normal form.
Pattern:
な-adjective/noun + で + adjective/verbExamples:
- 彼はげんきでしんせつです。
Kare wa genki de shinsetsu desu.
He is healthy and kind. - 田中さんは先生でりっぱな人です。
Tanaka-san wa sensei de rippa na hito desu.
Mr. Tanaka is a teacher and a respectable person.
🧠 Rule #3: Do Not Use 〜くて／〜で at the End of a Sentence
These forms are for connecting two or more phrases. You cannot end a sentence with 〜くて or 〜で.
🚫 Incorrect:
この映画はたのしくて。
❌ Kono eiga wa tanoshikute.✅ Correct:
この映画はたのしくて、すばらしかったです。
Kono eiga wa tanoshikute, subarashikatta desu.
This movie was fun and wonderful.
🧠 Rule #4: Match the Politeness Level in Both Clauses
When you’re using 〜くて or 〜で in polite speech, make sure both parts of the sentence match in formality.
✅ Correct:
きれいで、しずかです。
Kirei de, shizuka desu.❌ Mixing Forms:
きれいで、しずかだ。
🧠 Rule #5: Use 〜くて／〜で for Cause or Reason in Some Cases
These forms can also express cause and effect when followed by a consequence.
Examples:
- お金がなくて旅行に行けません。
Okane ga nakute ryokou ni ikemasen.
I don’t have money, so I can’t go on a trip. - びょうきで会社をやすみました。
Byouki de kaisha o yasumimashita.
I was sick, so I took a day off from work.
⚠️ Note: This works only with emotional, physical, or natural consequences. Not for volitional actions.
🧠 Rule #6: Use Only One Connector Between Clauses
Avoid using multiple connectors at the same time.
🚫 Incorrect:
かわいくてそして小さいです。
❌ Kawaikute soshite chiisai desu.✅ Correct:
かわいくて小さいです。
Kawaikute chiisai desu.
It’s cute and small.
🧠 Rule #7: Negative Forms Must Also Be Conjugated
When you’re expressing a negative meaning, make sure to use 〜なくて for adjectives and verbs.
Examples:
- あまりおいしくなくて、たべませんでした。
Amari oishikunakute, tabemasen deshita.
It was not very tasty, so I didn’t eat it.
🧠 Rule #8: Only the Last Verb in the Sequence Takes Tense
If you’re connecting actions or states, only the last clause should carry the tense or politeness marker.
Example:
あつくて、つかれて、ねました。
Atsukute, tsukarete, nemashita.
It was hot, I got tired, and I slept.
✅ Summary Table of Key Grammar Rules
Rule Description 1 〜くて connects い-adjectives 2 〜で connects な-adjectives and nouns 3 Don’t end sentences with 〜くて／〜で 4 Keep politeness level consistent 5 Can show cause/effect in emotional/natural cases 6 Only one connector between clauses 7 Negative forms → 〜なくて 8 Last verb carries tense/politeness These rules are the backbone of using 〜くて／〜で effectively. Now that you know how they work, let’s move on to some practical strategies and advice for using them like a pro!
✅ Important Tips for Using 〜くて／〜で Correctly
These expert tips will help you sound more natural in conversation and avoid awkward or incorrect phrasing. Whether you’re writing or speaking in Japanese, these insights will keep your sentences flowing smoothly and logically.
🔹 1. Think in Pairs or Chains
When connecting ideas, always visualize them in pairs or chains. Each part of your sentence should logically lead to the next. This makes your speech more fluent and your writing more coherent.
📝 Example:
図書館はしずかで、べんりで、きれいです。
Toshokan wa shizuka de, benri de, kirei desu.
The library is quiet, convenient, and clean.🗣️ Tip: Don’t overload your sentence. Three connected phrases are usually the max for everyday conversations.
🔹 2. Prioritize the Strongest Point Last
When using multiple descriptors, try to end with the most important point. This helps highlight your main message or feeling.
📝 Example:
このレストランはおしゃれで、やすくて、おいしいです。
Kono resutoran wa oshare de, yasukute, oishii desu.
This restaurant is stylish, affordable, and delicious.🍴 In this case, “delicious” is the most important and comes last for emphasis.
🔹 3. Always Check Word Type Before Choosing 〜くて or 〜で
It’s easy to mix up い-adjectives with な-adjectives. A quick test is to see how the word connects to a noun:
- If it connects with 〜い (e.g., おいしいレストラン) → Use 〜くて
- If it connects with 〜な (e.g., しずかなレストラン) → Use 〜で
🔹 4. Avoid Connecting Unrelated Ideas
Stick to connecting phrases that relate to each other naturally—either by meaning, tone, or context. Don’t just add random adjectives or actions together.
🛑 Incorrect:
この店はにぎやかで、魚をたべました。
(This sounds unnatural.)✅ Better:
この店はにぎやかで、サービスもよかったです。
The shop was lively, and the service was also good.
🔹 5. Use 〜くて／〜で to Sound More Native in Speech
Instead of always using “そして” (and), you can sound more natural by linking with 〜くて or 〜で.
📝 Example:
今日はあつくてつかれました。
Kyou wa atsukute tsukaremashita.
Today was hot, and I got tired.🚀 This is more fluid than:
今日はあついです。そして、つかれました。
🔹 6. Practice with Simple Descriptions
One great way to get comfortable is to describe everyday things with two or three qualities using 〜くて／〜で.
Try these prompts:
- Describe your favorite room.
- Describe your best friend.
- Describe your school or workplace.
📝 Example:
わたしのへやはせまくて、くらいです。
Watashi no heya wa semakute, kurai desu.
My room is small and dark.
🔹 7. Use in Storytelling and Journaling
These connectors are perfect when writing short stories or personal diaries in Japanese. They help you add flow and variety.
📝 Example (Story-style):
朝はさむくて、バスがおくれて、しごとにおくれました。
Asa wa samukute, basu ga okurete, shigoto ni okuremashita.
It was cold in the morning, the bus was late, and I was late for work.🗒️ Real-life journaling is one of the best ways to master grammar naturally.
🔹 8. Record Yourself Speaking
Try making short sentences out loud using 〜くて／〜で and record yourself. It improves fluency, confidence, and listening comprehension.
Prompt examples:
- “My city is…”
- “This food is…”
- “Today I felt…”
These smart tips will help you move beyond just knowing the grammar and into using it effectively in real conversations and writing.
❌ Common Mistakes with 〜くて／〜で and How to Fix Them
Even when learners understand the basics of 〜くて and 〜で, some common mistakes still creep into speaking and writing. These errors are easy to fix once you’re aware of them. Here are the top mistakes you should watch out for—without repeating the tips already discussed in earlier sections.
🔸 Mistake 1: Using 〜くて with Nouns or な-Adjectives
Some learners try to connect a noun or な-adjective with 〜くて, which is only meant for い-adjectives. This mistake leads to unnatural or grammatically incorrect sentences.
🛑 Incorrect:
このへやはきれいくてひろいです。
(Kirei is a な-adjective, so this is wrong.)✅ Correct:
このへやはきれいでひろいです。
Kono heya wa kirei de hiroi desu.
This room is clean and spacious.🎯 Fix: Always use 〜で with な-adjectives and nouns, and 〜くて with い-adjectives.
🔸 Mistake 2: Forgetting to Drop the Final い in い-Adjectives
When using 〜くて, learners sometimes forget to remove the final い from the adjective before adding くて.
🛑 Incorrect:
このカバンはおもいくて、つかれます。
(Wrong formation of the adjective.)✅ Correct:
このカバンはおもくて、つかれます。
Kono kaban wa omokute, tsukaremasu.
This bag is heavy, and I get tired.✂️ Fix: Always drop the い before adding くて.
🔸 Mistake 3: Using 〜くて or 〜で at the End of a Sentence
In Japanese, 〜くて／〜で are connectors. A sentence that ends with one sounds incomplete or awkward, like stopping mid-thought.
🛑 Incorrect:
このケーキはあまくて。
(This feels like an unfinished sentence.)✅ Correct:
このケーキはあまくて、おいしいです。
Kono keeki wa amakute, oishii desu.
This cake is sweet and tasty.🧠 Fix: Always complete the thought after 〜くて／〜で.
🔸 Mistake 4: Connecting a Verb with 〜くて Instead of 〜て
Some learners try to use 〜くて when connecting verbs instead of using the correct te-form.
🛑 Incorrect:
私はうちにかえりくて、ねました。
(“Kaerimasu” is a verb and needs the te-form.)✅ Correct:
私はうちにかえって、ねました。
Watashi wa uchi ni kaette, nemashita.
I went home and slept.🔁 Fix: Use 〜て (te-form), not 〜くて, for connecting verbs.
🔸 Mistake 5: Mixing Up 〜くて／〜で with Other Conjunctions
It’s common to accidentally mix conjunctions, especially when switching between formal and informal structures.
🛑 Incorrect:
天気がいいで、出かけました。
(“Ii” is an い-adjective, so “de” is incorrect.)✅ Correct:
天気がよくて、出かけました。
Tenki ga yokute, dekakemashita.
The weather was good, so I went out.🧭 Fix: Keep de for nouns and な-adjectives, and kute for い-adjectives. Never mix these with “て-form” unless you’re connecting verbs.
🔸 Mistake 6: Using Negative Forms with 〜くて／〜で Incorrectly
When describing negative qualities, many learners forget the right negative conjugation before attaching 〜くて／〜で.
🛑 Incorrect:
この本はおもしろなくて、つまらなかった。
(Wrong negative form of “omoshiroi.”)✅ Correct:
この本はおもしろくなくて、つまらなかった。
Kono hon wa omoshirokunakute, tsumaranakatta.
This book wasn’t interesting and was boring.🔍 Fix: Learn the negative stem forms properly:
- い-adjective: おいしくない → おいしくなくて
- な-adjective: しずかじゃない → しずかじゃなくて
🔸 Mistake 7: Translating Directly from English
Trying to translate “and” from English into Japanese without considering context often leads to misuse of 〜くて／〜で. Unlike English, not every “and” in Japanese uses these connectors.
🛑 Incorrect:
私はさかなをたべて、でジュースをのみました。
(Extra and incorrect “de”)✅ Correct:
私はさかなをたべて、ジュースをのみました。
Watashi wa sakana o tabete, juusu o nomimashita.
I ate fish and drank juice.🧠 Fix: Only use 〜くて／〜で when connecting related adjectives, states, or some actions, not every instance of “and.”
By avoiding these common mistakes and understanding why they happen, your Japanese will become more polished and natural.
20 〜くて／〜で Example Sentences for Better Understanding
Using lots of example sentences is one of the best ways to grasp the natural flow of 〜くて and 〜で in Japanese. Below, you’ll find 20 carefully crafted sentences with romaji and English translations that show how these connectors work with adjectives and verbs in everyday conversation.
Example Sentences with 〜くて (for い-adjectives)
- このケーキはあまくておいしいです。
Kono keeki wa amakute oishii desu.
This cake is sweet and delicious. - 今日はさむくて、外に出たくないです。
Kyou wa samukute, soto ni detakunai desu.
Today is cold, and I don’t want to go outside. - 彼ははやくて走るのが上手です。
Kare wa hayakute hashiru no ga jouzu desu.
He runs fast and is good at it. - この本はおもしろくて、一晩で読みました。
Kono hon wa omoshirokute, hitoban de yomimashita.
This book is interesting, and I read it overnight. - 部屋がせまくて、友だちを呼べません。
Heya ga semakute, tomodachi o yobemasen.
The room is small, so I can’t invite friends.
Example Sentences with 〜で (for な-adjectives and nouns)
- 彼女はしずかでやさしい人です。
Kanojo wa shizuka de yasashii hito desu.
She is a quiet and kind person. - このカフェはゆうめいで、いつも混んでいます。
Kono kafe wa yuumei de, itsumo konde imasu.
This café is famous and always crowded. - 日本語はべんりで楽しいです。
Nihongo wa benri de tanoshii desu.
Japanese is convenient and fun. - その映画は有名で面白かったです。
Sono eiga wa yuumei de omoshirokatta desu.
That movie was famous and interesting. - ここは安全で静かな場所です。
Koko wa anzen de shizuka na basho desu.
This place is safe and quiet.
Example Sentences Connecting Verbs (using te-form, NOT 〜くて／〜で)
- 毎朝コーヒーを飲んで、新聞を読みます。
Maiasa koohii o nonde, shinbun o yomimasu.
I drink coffee every morning and read the newspaper. - 友だちと遊んで、映画を見ました。
Tomodachi to asonde, eiga o mimashita.
I played with friends and watched a movie. - 学校に行って、勉強しました。
Gakkou ni itte, benkyou shimashita.
I went to school and studied. - 彼は本を読んで、音楽を聴いています。
Kare wa hon o yonde, ongaku o kiite imasu.
He is reading a book and listening to music. - 晩ご飯を作って、皿を洗いました。
Bangohan o tsukutte, sara o araimashita.
I cooked dinner and washed the dishes.
Mixed Adjectives with 〜くて and 〜で
- この公園はきれいで広くて、気持ちいいです。
Kono kouen wa kirei de hirokute, kimochi ii desu.
This park is clean, spacious, and pleasant. - 彼女の声はやさしくてかわいいです。
Kanojo no koe wa yasashikute kawaii desu.
Her voice is gentle and cute. - このレストランは有名で安くて、おいしいです。
Kono resutoran wa yuumei de yasukute, oishii desu.
This restaurant is famous, cheap, and delicious. - 彼はかっこよくて頭がいいです。
Kare wa kakkoyokute atama ga ii desu.
He is handsome and smart. - 私の部屋は静かで暖かくて、リラックスできます。
Watashi no heya wa shizuka de atatakakute, rirakkusu dekimasu.
My room is quiet, warm, and relaxing.
These sentences illustrate how 〜くて and 〜で connect ideas smoothly in Japanese, showing relationships between adjectives and linking states or qualities naturally. The clear pattern is that 〜くて joins い-adjectives, while 〜で joins な-adjectives and nouns.
〜くて／〜で Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise: Test Your Knowledge
Try these 20 fill-in-the-blank sentences to practice using 〜くて and 〜で correctly with adjectives and verbs. Fill in the blanks with the right form of the adjective or verb plus 〜くて or 〜で.
- このりんごは___（あまい）___おいしいです。
Kono ringo wa (amai) oishii desu.
This apple is sweet and delicious. - 部屋が___（せまい）___、窓がありません。
Heya ga (semai), mado ga arimasen.
The room is small and has no windows. - 彼女は___（しずか）___優しい人です。
Kanojo wa (shizuka) yasashii hito desu.
She is a quiet and kind person. - 公園は___（きれい）___広いです。
Kouen wa (kirei) hiroi desu.
The park is clean and spacious. - 今日は___（あつい）___暑くて疲れました。
Kyou wa (atsui) atsukute tsukaremashita.
Today was hot and I got tired. - 映画は___（おもしろい）___楽しかったです。
Eiga wa (omoshiroi) tanoshikatta desu.
The movie was interesting and fun. - 彼は本を読んで、音楽を___（きく）___います。
Kare wa hon o yonde, ongaku o (kiku) imasu.
He is reading a book and listening to music. - 毎朝コーヒーを___（のむ）___新聞を読みます。
Maiasa koohii o (nomu) shinbun o yomimasu.
Every morning I drink coffee and read the newspaper. - このケーキは___（あまい）___おいしいです。
Kono keeki wa (amai) oishii desu.
This cake is sweet and delicious. - 彼女は___（げんき）___明るいです。
Kanojo wa (genki) akarui desu.
She is healthy/energetic and cheerful. - 部屋が___（くらい）___、落ち着きません。
Heya ga (kurai), ochitsukimasen.
The room is dark and doesn’t feel calm. - このカフェは___（ゆうめい）___いつも混んでいます。
Kono kafe wa (yuumei) itsumo konde imasu.
This café is famous and always crowded. - 昨日は___（さむい）___雪が降りました。
Kinou wa (samui) yuki ga furimashita.
Yesterday it was cold and it snowed. - 彼は優しくて、___（かしこい）___です。
Kare wa yasashikute, (kashikoi) desu.
He is kind and smart. - 晩ご飯を作って、皿を___（あらう）___ました。
Bangohan o tsukutte, sara o ___(arau)___mashita.
I cooked dinner and washed the dishes. - 友だちと遊んで、映画を___（みる）___ました。
Tomodachi to asonde, eiga o ___(miru)___mashita.
I played with friends and watched a movie. - この町は___（あんぜん）___静かです。
Kono machi wa (anzen) shizuka desu.
This town is safe and quiet. - 彼は___（かっこいい）___頭がいいです。
Kare wa (kakkoii) atama ga ii desu.
He is handsome and smart. - 朝ご飯を食べて、学校に___（いく）___ました。
Asagohan o tabete, gakkou ni ___(iku)___mashita.
I ate breakfast and went to school. - 部屋は___（あたたかい）___リラックスできます。
Heya wa (atatakai) rirakkusu dekimasu.
The room is warm and relaxing.
Try filling these blanks with the correct adjective or verb form plus 〜くて or 〜で to connect the ideas naturally!
Check Your Answers for the 〜くて／〜で Exercise
- このりんごはあまくておいしいです。
Kono ringo wa amakute oishii desu.
This apple is sweet and delicious. - 部屋がせまくて、窓がありません。
Heya ga semakute, mado ga arimasen.
The room is small and has no windows. - 彼女はしずかで優しい人です。
Kanojo wa shizuka de yasashii hito desu.
She is a quiet and kind person. - 公園はきれいで広いです。
Kouen wa kirei de hiroi desu.
The park is clean and spacious. - 今日はあつくて疲れました。
Kyou wa atsukute tsukaremashita.
Today was hot and I got tired. - 映画はおもしろくて楽しかったです。
Eiga wa omoshirokute tanoshikatta desu.
The movie was interesting and fun. - 彼は本を読んで、音楽をきいています。
Kare wa hon o yonde, ongaku o kiite imasu.
He is reading a book and listening to music. - 毎朝コーヒーをのんで新聞を読みます。
Maiasa koohii o nonde shinbun o yomimasu.
Every morning I drink coffee and read the newspaper. - このケーキはあまくておいしいです。
Kono keeki wa amakute oishii desu.
This cake is sweet and delicious. - 彼女はげんきで明るいです。
Kanojo wa genki de akarui desu.
She is healthy/energetic and cheerful. - 部屋がくらくて落ち着きません。
Heya ga kurakute ochitsukimasen.
The room is dark and doesn’t feel calm. - このカフェはゆうめいでいつも混んでいます。
Kono kafe wa yuumei de itsumo konde imasu.
This café is famous and always crowded. - 昨日はさむくて雪が降りました。
Kinou wa samukute yuki ga furimashita.
Yesterday it was cold and it snowed. - 彼は優しくて、かしこいです。
Kare wa yasashikute, kashikoi desu.
He is kind and smart. - 晩ご飯を作って、皿をあらいました。
Bangohan o tsukutte, sara o araimashita.
I cooked dinner and washed the dishes. - 友だちと遊んで、映画をみました。
Tomodachi to asonde, eiga o mimashita.
I played with friends and watched a movie. - この町はあんぜんで静かです。
Kono machi wa anzen de shizuka desu.
This town is safe and quiet. - 彼はかっこよくて頭がいいです。
Kare wa kakkoyokute atama ga ii desu.
He is handsome and smart. - 朝ご飯を食べて、学校にいきました。
Asagohan o tabete, gakkou ni ikimashita.
I ate breakfast and went to school. - 部屋はあたたかくてリラックスできます。
Heya wa atatakakute rirakkusu dekimasu.
The room is warm and relaxing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About 〜くて／〜で
1. What is the difference between 〜くて and 〜で when connecting adjectives?
〜くて is used to connect i-adjectives, while 〜で is used to connect na-adjectives. For example:- おいしくて (oishikute) — connecting i-adjective “delicious”
- きれいで (kirei de) — connecting na-adjective “clean/beautiful”
2. Can 〜で be used with verbs to connect actions?
No, 〜で is not used to connect verbs. To connect verbs, the て-form of the verb itself is used, such as 食べて (tabete) or 行って (itte).3. How do I know when to use 〜くて vs 〜て for i-adjectives?
You always use 〜くて for i-adjectives when connecting clauses. The て-form (〜て) applies to verbs, not adjectives.4. Can I use 〜くて or 〜で to connect sentences that express cause and effect?
Yes! These forms can connect adjectives and verbs to express cause and effect, like:
暑くて疲れた (Atsukute tsukareta) — It was hot, so I got tired.5. Is 〜で only used to connect na-adjectives or does it have other functions?
While 〜で connects na-adjectives, it also acts as a particle with other uses, such as indicating the location of an action (e.g., 学校で勉強する – I study at school).6. Are 〜くて and 〜で interchangeable in any cases?
No, they are not interchangeable because they apply to different types of adjectives (i-adjectives vs na-adjectives). Using the wrong form sounds unnatural.7. Can I use 〜くて／〜で in formal writing or speeches?
Yes, these forms are natural in both spoken and written Japanese, but for very formal writing, other constructions might be preferred.8. How do 〜くて and 〜で differ from using そして (and) to connect sentences?
〜くて and 〜で connect adjectives or verbs smoothly within a sentence, whereas そして (soshite) connects two independent sentences or ideas, often at the start of a new sentence.9. Can I use 〜くて／〜で to connect more than two adjectives or verbs?
Yes, you can chain multiple adjectives or verbs together using repeated 〜くて or 〜で forms, like:
楽しくて面白くて最高です (Tanoshikute omoshirokute saikou desu) — It’s fun, interesting, and the best.10. What should I watch out for when using 〜くて／〜で with negative adjectives or verbs?
For negative i-adjectives, use 〜くて with the negative form (e.g., よくなくて – not good and…). For verbs, use the て-form of the negative (e.g., 食べなくて – not eating and…). Be careful to maintain the proper negative conjugation.
Key Takeaways: 〜くて／〜で Summary and Important Points
- 〜くて is used to connect i-adjectives smoothly in sentences.
- 〜で is used to connect na-adjectives when linking ideas.
- To connect verbs, use their て-form (e.g., 食べて, 行って).
- Both forms allow you to link adjectives or verbs to describe multiple qualities or sequential actions naturally.
- These connectors can express cause and effect, reasons, or simply list qualities/actions.
- 〜くて／〜で are commonly used in daily Japanese conversations and writing.
- They are not interchangeable; always match the connector to the adjective type.
- Negative adjectives and verbs have their own 〜くて and て-form conjugations to connect negative ideas.
- You can chain several adjectives or verbs by repeating 〜くて or 〜で.
- These forms are essential for making your Japanese sound natural and fluent.
- Always avoid confusing these with particles like で that have other grammatical functions.
- Using these correctly helps you build more complex, descriptive, and fluid sentences.
Conclusion: Mastering 〜くて／〜で for Fluent Japanese Connection
Understanding how to use 〜くて and 〜で to connect adjectives and verbs is a vital step toward speaking and writing natural, fluent Japanese. These simple yet powerful grammar points allow you to link multiple ideas, describe things more vividly, and express cause and effect with ease. Whether you’re just starting your Japanese journey or aiming to refine your skills, mastering 〜くて／〜で will help you sound more native and confident in your conversations.
Practice these forms regularly with everyday sentences, and don’t hesitate to revisit the exercises in this guide. As you grow more comfortable, you’ll find your ability to express complex thoughts in Japanese improving dramatically.
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Mastering 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Japanese | My Language Classes
Using 〜にくい & 〜やすい in Japanese
Have you ever struggled to say that something is easy or difficult to do in Japanese? Whether you want to describe how simple a task is or express frustration over something challenging, 〜にくい (nikui) and 〜やすい (yasui) are essential grammar patterns that make your Japanese sound more natural. These forms allow you to effortlessly describe ease and difficulty, making your sentences more fluid and expressive.
In Japanese, we often use these structures to talk about actions and experiences:
- このペンは書きやすいです。
Kono pen wa kaki yasui desu.
→ This pen is easy to write with. - この漢字は覚えにくいです。
Kono kanji wa oboe nikui desu.
→ This kanji is difficult to remember.
By mastering 〜にくい and 〜やすい, you’ll improve your Japanese fluency and express yourself more accurately in conversations. In this guide, we’ll break down meanings, usage, conjugation rules, grammar tips, and common mistakes, ensuring you learn these patterns with confidence.
Common Expressions Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい
Now that we understand the basics, let’s look at some commonly used expressions with 〜にくい and 〜やすい. These phrases frequently appear in daily conversations and written Japanese, so mastering them will help you sound more natural.
Common Expressions with 〜やすい (Easy to Do)
- 覚えやすい名前 (Oboe yasui namae) – An easy-to-remember name
- 壊れやすいガラス (Koware yasui garasu) – Fragile (easy-to-break) glass
- 話しやすい先生 (Hanashi yasui sensei) – A teacher who is easy to talk to
- 間違えやすい単語 (Machigae yasui tango) – A word that is easy to mispronounce
- 使いやすいアプリ (Tsukai yasui apuri) – A user-friendly (easy-to-use) app
Common Expressions with 〜にくい (Difficult to Do)
- 覚えにくい単語 (Oboe nikui tango) – A difficult-to-remember word
- 聞きにくい質問 (Kiki nikui shitsumon) – A difficult (awkward) question to ask
- 理解しにくい説明 (Rikai nikui setsumei) – A hard-to-understand explanation
- 歩きにくい靴 (Aruki nikui kutsu) – Uncomfortable (difficult-to-walk-in) shoes
- 見にくい画面 (Mi nikui gamen) – A screen that is hard to see
These phrases demonstrate how 〜やすい makes things sound easy, while 〜にくい conveys difficulty. In the next section, we’ll explore when to use these grammar patterns in different situations.
Usage: When to Use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Sentences
Now that we’ve seen some common expressions, let’s dive into when and how to use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in different situations. These grammar patterns help describe the ease or difficulty of performing an action, and they are frequently used in everyday Japanese.
1. Describing How Easy or Difficult an Action Is
One of the most common uses of 〜にくい and 〜やすい is to describe how easy or difficult it is to perform an action. This structure is often used with verbs.
✅ やすい Example:
- この本は読（よ）みやすいです。
Kono hon wa yomi yasui desu.
→ This book is easy to read.
❌ にくい Example:
- この漢字は書（か）きにくいです。
Kono kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
→ This kanji is difficult to write.
2. Talking About Physical Ease or Difficulty
These patterns can also be used to describe how physically easy or hard something is to handle or use.
✅ やすい Example:
- このパソコンは持（も）ちやすいです。
Kono pasokon wa mochi yasui desu.
→ This laptop is easy to carry.
❌ にくい Example:
- このドアは開（あ）けにくいです。
Kono doa wa ake nikui desu.
→ This door is hard to open.
3. Expressing Emotional or Psychological Difficulty
Sometimes, 〜にくい is used for things that are emotionally difficult to do, such as asking a sensitive question or speaking in an unfamiliar language. 〜やすい, on the other hand, can describe situations that feel comfortable or natural.
✅ やすい Example:
- 彼（かれ）は話（はな）しやすい人（ひと）です。
Kare wa hanashi yasui hito desu.
→ He is an easy person to talk to.
❌ にくい Example:
- この話題（わだい）は言（い）いにくいです。
Kono wadai wa ii nikui desu.
→ This topic is hard to talk about.
4. Referring to Visibility or Legibility
Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい can describe how easy or hard something is to see, read, or understand.
✅ やすい Example:
- このフォントは読（よ）みやすいです。
Kono fonto wa yomi yasui desu.
→ This font is easy to read.
❌ にくい Example:
- この地図（ちず）は見（み）にくいです。
Kono chizu wa mi nikui desu.
→ This map is hard to see.
These are some of the most common situations where 〜にくい and 〜やすい are used in Japanese. In the next section, we’ll break down the conjugation rules so you can start forming your own sentences correctly.
Conjugation: How to Attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい to Different Words
Now that we’ve covered the usage, let’s learn how to correctly attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい to different types of words. These patterns are typically used with verbs, but they can also modify nouns and adjectives in some cases.
1. Verbs: How to Attach 〜にくい and 〜やすい
〜にくい and 〜やすい attach to the ます-stem (also known as the verb stem).
How to find the verb stem:
- Take the dictionary form of a verb (e.g., 食べる, 飲む, 書く).
- Remove the ます from the polite ます-form (e.g., 食べます → 食べ, 飲みます → 飲み).
- Attach 〜にくい or 〜やすい to the remaining stem.
Conjugation Examples for Different Verb Types:
Verb Type Dictionary Form ます-Form Stem + にくい (Hard to…) + やすい (Easy to…) Ichidan (る-verbs) 食べる (taberu) 食べます (tabemasu) 食べ (tabe) 食べにくい (tabe nikui) → Hard to eat 食べやすい (tabe yasui) → Easy to eat Godan (う-verbs) 飲む (nomu) 飲みます (nomimasu) 飲み (nomi) 飲みにくい (nomi nikui) → Hard to drink 飲みやすい (nomi yasui) → Easy to drink Godan (う-verbs) 書く (kaku) 書きます (kakimasu) 書き (kaki) 書きにくい (kaki nikui) → Hard to write 書きやすい (kaki yasui) → Easy to write Irregular Verbs する (suru) します (shimasu) し (shi) しにくい (shi nikui) → Hard to do しやすい (shi yasui) → Easy to do Irregular Verbs 来る (kuru) 来ます (kimasu) 来 (ki) 来にくい (ki nikui) → Hard to come 来やすい (ki yasui) → Easy to come
2. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used with Adjectives?
No, 〜にくい and 〜やすい cannot attach to adjectives directly. However, to describe the ease or difficulty of an adjective, you can use 〜そう (sou) or 〜すぎる (sugiru) instead.
✅ Alternative Example with Adjective:
- 暑（あつ）すぎて眠（ねむ）りにくいです。
Atsu sugite nemuri nikui desu.
→ It’s too hot, so it’s hard to sleep.
If you want to say something looks easy or difficult, use 〜そう (sou) instead.
✅ Example:
- この問題（もんだい）は難（むずか）しそうです。
Kono mondai wa muzukashi sou desu.
→ This question looks difficult.
3. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used with Nouns?
Technically, 〜にくい and 〜やすい do not attach directly to nouns. However, you can use them indirectly by turning the noun into a verb using する (suru).
✅ Example:
- このサイトは利用（りよう）しやすいです。
Kono saito wa riyou shi yasui desu.
→ This website is easy to use.
4. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used in Negative Sentences?
Yes, they can! Simply conjugate the 〜にくい and 〜やすい as い-adjectives:
Tense Example with 〜やすい (Easy to Do) Example with 〜にくい (Hard to Do) Present Positive 食べやすい (tabe yasui) → Easy to eat 食べにくい (tabe nikui) → Hard to eat Present Negative 食べやすくない (tabe yasuku nai) → Not easy to eat 食べにくくない (tabe nikuku nai) → Not hard to eat Past Positive 食べやすかった (tabe yasukatta) → Was easy to eat 食べにくかった (tabe nikukatta) → Was hard to eat Past Negative 食べやすくなかった (tabe yasuku nakatta) → Was not easy to eat 食べにくくなかった (tabe nikuku nakatta) → Was not hard to eat By following these conjugation rules, you can confidently use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in various sentence structures.
In the next section, we’ll explore the grammar rules in more detail to ensure you fully grasp these concepts.
Grammar Rules: Understanding 〜にくい and 〜やすい
Now that we’ve covered usage and conjugation, let’s take a deeper look at the grammar rules behind 〜にくい and 〜やすい. Understanding these rules will help you form correct and natural sentences in Japanese.
1. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Always Modify Verbs
As mentioned earlier, 〜にくい and 〜やすい attach to the verb stem. They cannot be directly attached to adjectives or nouns.
✅ Correct Usage (with Verbs):
- 漢字（かんじ）は書（か）きにくいです。
Kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
→ Kanji is hard to write.
❌ Incorrect Usage (with Adjectives/Nouns):
- この部屋（へや）は寒（さむ）にくいです。 (Incorrect!)
- この仕事（しごと）はやすいです。 (Incorrect!)
✅ Correct Alternative:
- この部屋（へや）は寒（さむ）すぎて、寝（ね）にくいです。
Kono heya wa samu sugite, ne nikui desu.
→ This room is too cold, so it’s hard to sleep. - この仕事（しごと）は簡単（かんたん）でやりやすいです。
Kono shigoto wa kantan de yari yasui desu.
→ This job is simple, so it’s easy to do.
2. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Are Treated as い-Adjectives
Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい act like regular い-adjectives. This means they can be conjugated just like adjectives.
✅ Example Conjugation with 〜やすい (Easy to Do)
Tense Sentence Example Translation Present Positive この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすいです。 These shoes are easy to wear. Present Negative この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすくないです。 These shoes are not easy to wear. Past Positive この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすかったです。 These shoes were easy to wear. Past Negative この靴（くつ）は履（は）きやすくなかったです。 These shoes were not easy to wear. ✅ Example Conjugation with 〜にくい (Hard to Do)
Tense Sentence Example Translation Present Positive このペンは書（か）きにくいです。 This pen is hard to write with. Present Negative このペンは書（か）きにくくないです。 This pen is not hard to write with. Past Positive このペンは書（か）きにくかったです。 This pen was hard to write with. Past Negative このペンは書（か）きにくくなかったです。 This pen was not hard to write with.
3. 〜にくい Does NOT Mean “Impossible”
〜にくい does not mean something is completely impossible to do; it just means that it’s difficult or inconvenient. If you want to express something that is completely impossible, use 〜できない (dekinai) instead.
✅ Example:
- この字（じ）は読（よ）みにくいです。
Kono ji wa yomi nikui desu.
→ This character is hard to read. (But still possible!)
❌ Incorrect Usage:
- この字（じ）は読（よ）めにくいです。 (Wrong! “Yomeru” means “can read”, so “yome nikui” is incorrect!)
✅ Alternative for “Impossible”:
- この字（じ）は読（よ）めません。
Kono ji wa yomemasen.
→ I cannot read this character. (Completely impossible!)
4. 〜にくい vs. 〜づらい: What’s the Difference?
Another similar structure in Japanese is 〜づらい (zurai), which also means “hard to do.” While 〜にくい is more about physical difficulty, 〜づらい is used more for psychological or emotional difficulty.
✅ Example Using 〜にくい (Physical Difficulty):
- この薬（くすり）は飲（の）みにくいです。
Kono kusuri wa nomi nikui desu.
→ This medicine is hard to swallow. (Because of taste, texture, etc.)
✅ Example Using 〜づらい (Emotional Difficulty):
- 彼（かれ）に本当（ほんとう）のことを言（い）いづらいです。
Kare ni hontou no koto o ii zurai desu.
→ It’s hard to tell him the truth. (Because of emotions or sensitivity)
💡 Rule of Thumb:
- 〜にくい = Physically difficult, inconvenient
- 〜づらい = Emotionally difficult, uncomfortable
5. 〜やすい Is NOT the Same as 〜がち or 〜やすい (Cheap/Easy)
Be careful not to confuse やすい (yasui = easy to do) with other やすい words in Japanese.
✅ Example Using 〜やすい (Easy to Do):
- このボールペンは書（か）きやすいです。
Kono boorupen wa kaki yasui desu.
→ This ballpoint pen is easy to write with.
❌ Confusing Similar Word:
- このシャツは安（やす）いです。
Kono shatsu wa yasui desu.
→ This shirt is cheap. (Completely different meaning!)
6. Can 〜にくい and 〜やすい Be Used in Formal Writing?
Yes! Both forms can be used in formal writing, but they are more common in spoken Japanese or casual writing. In business or academic writing, you might see more neutral alternatives like 難（むずか）しい (muzukashii, difficult) or 簡単（かんたん） (kantan, easy).
✅ Example in a Formal Setting:
- この手順（てじゅん）は理解（りかい）しやすいです。
Kono tejun wa rikai shi yasui desu.
→ This procedure is easy to understand.
These grammar rules will help you use 〜にくい and 〜やすい correctly in different contexts.
In the next section, we’ll discuss tricky points and exceptions that you need to keep in mind when using these patterns.
Things to Keep in Mind: Tricky Points, Exceptions, and Important Details
Now that you understand the grammar rules for 〜にくい and 〜やすい, let’s look at some tricky points, exceptions, and details that often confuse learners. Paying attention to these will help you use these patterns correctly and sound more natural in Japanese.
1. Some Verbs Change Meaning with 〜にくい and 〜やすい
In some cases, attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい slightly changes the meaning of the original verb. Instead of simply indicating difficulty or ease, the phrase might imply something unexpected.
✅ Example: 聞（き）く (to listen / to ask)
- 聞（き）きにくい → Hard to ask (someone something)
- 先生（せんせい）に質問（しつもん）を聞（き）きにくいです。
Sensei ni shitsumon o kiki nikui desu.
→ It’s hard to ask the teacher a question. (Because of nervousness, shyness, etc.)
- 先生（せんせい）に質問（しつもん）を聞（き）きにくいです。
- 聞（き）きやすい → Easy to listen to / easy to hear
- この先生（せんせい）は話（はな）し方（かた）が聞（き）きやすいです。
Kono sensei wa hanashikata ga kiki yasui desu.
→ This teacher’s way of speaking is easy to listen to.
- この先生（せんせい）は話（はな）し方（かた）が聞（き）きやすいです。
💡 Notice the difference?
- 聞きにくい relates to asking questions (psychological difficulty).
- 聞きやすい relates to listening (ease of hearing).
2. Some Verbs Use 〜づらい Instead of 〜にくい
As mentioned earlier, 〜づらい is often used instead of 〜にくい for psychological or emotional difficulty. While 〜にくい is grammatically correct in most cases, native speakers often prefer 〜づらい for things related to feelings or social interactions.
✅ More Natural Sentences Using 〜づらい:
- 上司（じょうし）に意見（いけん）を言（い）いづらいです。
Joushi ni iken o ii zurai desu.
→ It’s hard to express my opinion to my boss. (Social/emotional difficulty) - この話（はなし）はしづらいです。
Kono hanashi wa shi zurai desu.
→ This topic is hard to talk about. (Sensitive topic)
💡 When to Use Which?
- 〜にくい → Physical difficulty (writing, reading, eating, etc.)
- 〜づらい → Emotional/social difficulty (talking, asking, expressing emotions, etc.)
3. 〜やすい Does Not Mean “Cheap”
One common mistake learners make is confusing 〜やすい (easy to do) with 安（やす）い (cheap). Though they sound the same, their meanings are completely different.
❌ Incorrect:
- このレストランは食（た）べやすいです。 (This restaurant is easy to eat?)
✅ Correct:
- このレストランの料理（りょうり）は食（た）べやすいです。
Kono resutoran no ryouri wa tabe yasui desu.
→ The food at this restaurant is easy to eat.
If you want to say something is cheap, use 安（やす）い (yasui) instead.
- このレストランは安（やす）いです。 (This restaurant is cheap.)
4. Some Expressions Don’t Work Well with 〜にくい or 〜やすい
While 〜にくい and 〜やすい work for most action verbs, they don’t always sound natural for certain abstract or stative verbs.
❌ Unnatural Sentences:
- 愛（あい）しにくい (Hard to love?)
- 怒（おこ）りやすい (Easy to get angry?)
✅ Natural Alternatives:
- この人（ひと）は理解（りかい）しにくいです。
Kono hito wa rikai shi nikui desu.
→ This person is hard to understand. (Instead of “hard to love”) - 彼（かれ）はすぐ怒（おこ）ります。
Kare wa sugu okorimasu.
→ He gets angry easily. (Instead of “easy to get angry”)
5. 〜にくい and 〜やすい Can Be Used with Potential Verbs, But It’s Rare
Although 〜にくい and 〜やすい are usually attached to the stem of a verb, they can be used with potential form verbs, but it’s uncommon.
✅ Rare, But Possible:
- この問題（もんだい）は解（と）けやすいです。
Kono mondai wa toke yasui desu.
→ This problem is easy to solve. - 彼（かれ）の話（はなし）は信（しん）じにくいです。
Kare no hanashi wa shinji nikui desu.
→ His story is hard to believe.
💡 However, it’s more common to just use the verb in its normal form!
6. When to Use Katakana vs. Hiragana for 〜にくい and 〜やすい
Both 〜にくい and 〜やすい are typically written in hiragana, but you may occasionally see them in katakana (ニクイ / ヤスイ) for emphasis. This is common in advertisements, signs, or marketing materials to make the words stand out.
✅ Example in Advertising:
- スープがノミニクイ？ (Is the soup hard to drink?)
- 切（き）りヤスイ包丁（ほうちょう）！ (An easy-to-cut-with knife!)
However, in normal writing, it’s best to stick with hiragana (にくい / やすい).
These are some of the key tricky points and exceptions to keep in mind when using 〜にくい and 〜やすい. Mastering these details will help you avoid common mistakes and sound more natural in Japanese.
In the next section, we’ll go over common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even though 〜にくい and 〜やすい are straightforward to use, learners often make common mistakes when forming sentences. Let’s look at these errors and learn how to avoid them!
1. Using 〜にくい Instead of 〜づらい for Emotional or Social Difficulty
❌ Incorrect:
- 先生（せんせい）に「いいえ」と言（い）いにくいです。
Sensei ni “iie” to ii nikui desu.
→ It’s hard to say “no” to my teacher. (Technically correct but sounds unnatural.)
✅ Correct:
- 先生（せんせい）に「いいえ」と言（い）いづらいです。
Sensei ni “iie” to ii zurai desu.
→ It’s hard to say “no” to my teacher. (More natural because it expresses social/emotional difficulty.)
💡 Tip: Use 〜づらい instead of 〜にくい when talking about psychological or emotional difficulty.
2. Confusing 〜やすい with 安（やす）い (cheap)
❌ Incorrect:
- この服（ふく）は着（き）やすいですから、買（か）いました。
Kono fuku wa ki yasui desu kara, kaimashita.
→ (This clothing is easy to wear, so I bought it.) (Sounds okay, but could be misunderstood as “cheap.”)
✅ Correct:
- この服（ふく）は着（き）やすいので、買（か）いました。
Kono fuku wa ki yasui node, kaimashita.
→ I bought this clothing because it’s easy to wear. (Using “ので” makes it sound smoother.)
💡 Tip: If you mean cheap, use 安（やす）い, not 〜やすい!
3. Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい with the Wrong Type of Verbs
Since 〜にくい and 〜やすい describe actions, they cannot be used with adjectives or non-action verbs.
❌ Incorrect:
- この部屋（へや）は広（ひろ）やすいです。
(Kono heya wa hiro yasui desu.) → (This room is easy to be spacious?) - 彼（かれ）は悲（かな）しにくいです。
(Kare wa kanashi nikui desu.) → (He is hard to be sad?)
✅ Correct:
- この部屋（へや）は広（ひろ）くて使（つか）いやすいです。
Kono heya wa hirokute tsukai yasui desu.
→ This room is spacious and easy to use. - 彼（かれ）は悲（かな）しみを表（あらわ）しにくいです。
Kare wa kanashimi o arawashi nikui desu.
→ He finds it difficult to express sadness.
💡 Tip: Use 〜にくい and 〜やすい with action verbs only!
4. Forgetting to Change Group 1 Verbs to the い-Stem
Since Group 1 verbs (Godan verbs) change their ending vowel before attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい, forgetting this rule leads to incorrect conjugation.
❌ Incorrect:
- この本（ほん）は読（よ）むやすいです。
(Kono hon wa yomu yasui desu.) → (This book is easy to read?)
✅ Correct:
- この本（ほん）は読（よ）みやすいです。
Kono hon wa yomi yasui desu.
→ This book is easy to read.
💡 Tip: For Group 1 verbs, change the final う sound to い before attaching 〜にくい or 〜やすい!
5. Forgetting That 〜にくい Does Not Mean “Impossible”
Some learners misunderstand 〜にくい as meaning “impossible”, but it only means “difficult”.
❌ Incorrect:
- 漢字（かんじ）は読（よ）みにくいから、全然（ぜんぜん）読（よ）めません。
(Kanji wa yomi nikui kara, zenzen yomemasen.)
→ (Kanji is hard to read, so I can’t read it at all.)
✅ Correct:
- 漢字（かんじ）は読（よ）みにくいけど、練習（れんしゅう）すれば読（よ）めます。
Kanji wa yomi nikui kedo, renshuu sureba yomemasu.
→ Kanji is hard to read, but I can read it if I practice.
💡 Tip: 〜にくい means “difficult,” not “impossible”—don’t overuse it!
6. Using 〜やすい for Something That is “Convenient” Instead of “Easy”
Learners sometimes use 〜やすい to mean “convenient”, but that’s not always correct.
❌ Incorrect:
- このコンビニは行（い）きやすいです。
(Kono konbini wa iki yasui desu.) → (This convenience store is easy to go?)
✅ Correct:
- このコンビニは近（ちか）くて便利（べんり）です。
Kono konbini wa chikakute benri desu.
→ This convenience store is close and convenient.
💡 Tip: 〜やすい means “easy to do”, not “convenient”—use 便利（べんり） (benri) instead!
7. Using 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Formal Writing
While 〜にくい and 〜やすい are commonly used in spoken and casual written Japanese, they may sound too informal for academic or business writing.
✅ More Formal Alternatives:
- 〜しにくい → 難（むずか）しい (muzukashii) / 困難（こんなん）な (konnan na)
- 〜しやすい → 簡単（かんたん）な (kantan na) / 容易（ようい）な (youi na)
💡 Tip: If writing a business email or essay, consider using 難しい / 簡単な instead!
These are some of the most common mistakes learners make with 〜にくい and 〜やすい. By avoiding these errors, you’ll sound more natural and confident in Japanese.
Next, we’ll practice with example sentences to reinforce what you’ve learned!
Example Sentences with 〜にくい and 〜やすい
Now, let’s see some example sentences using 〜にくい and 〜やすい in different contexts. Each sentence includes Romaji and English translation to help you understand how these grammar points work in real-life conversations.
1. Daily Life Sentences
- この靴（くつ）は歩（ある）きやすいです。
Kono kutsu wa aruki yasui desu.
→ These shoes are easy to walk in. - このドアは開（あ）けにくいですね。
Kono doa wa ake nikui desu ne.
→ This door is hard to open, isn’t it? - 日本語（にほんご）は聞（き）きにくいけど、練習（れんしゅう）すれば上手（じょうず）になります。
Nihongo wa kiki nikui kedo, renshuu sureba jouzu ni narimasu.
→ Japanese is hard to understand when listening, but if you practice, you’ll improve. - このカバンは使（つか）いやすいです。
Kono kaban wa tsukai yasui desu.
→ This bag is easy to use. - このコップは割（わ）れにくいです。
Kono koppu wa ware nikui desu.
→ This cup is hard to break.
2. Food & Eating Sentences
- このスープは飲（の）みやすいです。
Kono suupu wa nomi yasui desu.
→ This soup is easy to drink. - 辛（から）すぎて食（た）べにくいです。
Karasugite tabe nikui desu.
→ It’s too spicy, so it’s hard to eat. - この果物（くだもの）は皮（かわ）がむきやすいです。
Kono kudamono wa kawa ga muki yasui desu.
→ This fruit’s skin is easy to peel. - このステーキは硬（かた）くて切（き）りにくいです。
Kono suteeki wa katakute kiri nikui desu.
→ This steak is tough and hard to cut. - このお茶（ちゃ）は甘（あま）くて飲（の）みやすいです。
Kono ocha wa amakute nomi yasui desu.
→ This tea is sweet and easy to drink.
3. Work & Study Sentences
- このレポートは読（よ）みやすいです。
Kono repooto wa yomi yasui desu.
→ This report is easy to read. - この漢字（かんじ）は書（か）きにくいです。
Kono kanji wa kaki nikui desu.
→ This kanji is hard to write. - この説明（せつめい）は分（わ）かりにくいです。
Kono setsumei wa wakari nikui desu.
→ This explanation is hard to understand. - このノートは線（せん）が入（はい）っていて書（か）きやすいです。
Kono nooto wa sen ga haitte ite kaki yasui desu.
→ This notebook has lines, so it’s easy to write in. - 彼（かれ）の話（はなし）は速（はや）すぎて聞（き）きにくいです。
Kare no hanashi wa hayasugite kiki nikui desu.
→ His speech is too fast and hard to understand.
4. Social & Emotional Sentences
- 上司（じょうし）には頼（たの）み事（ごと）がしにくいです。
Joushi ni wa tanomi goto ga shi nikui desu.
→ It’s hard to ask my boss for favors. - このニュースは信（しん）じにくいです。
Kono nyuusu wa shinji nikui desu.
→ This news is hard to believe. - 彼女（かのじょ）は話（はな）しやすい人（ひと）です。
Kanojo wa hanashi yasui hito desu.
→ She is an easy person to talk to. - この問題（もんだい）は解（と）きやすいです。
Kono mondai wa toki yasui desu.
→ This problem is easy to solve. - 怒（おこ）っている人（ひと）とは話（はな）しにくいです。
Okotte iru hito to wa hanashi nikui desu.
→ It’s hard to talk to someone who is angry.
These example sentences cover various situations, helping you understand how to naturally use 〜にくい and 〜やすい in daily conversation.
Now, let’s test your understanding with a fill-in-the-blanks exercise!
Exercise: Fill in the Blanks with 〜にくい or 〜やすい
Now, let’s test your understanding! Fill in the blanks with 〜にくい or 〜やすい using the given word in plain form (in parentheses) as a reference.
1. Daily Life Situations
- このペンは_____です。（書く）
Kono pen wa _____ desu.
→ This pen is _____ to write with. - このコップはガラスでできているので、_____です。（割れる）
Kono koppu wa garasu de dekite iru node, _____ desu.
→ This cup is made of glass, so it’s _____ to break. - 彼の字（じ）は小さすぎて_____です。（読む）
Kare no ji wa chiisasugite _____ desu.
→ His handwriting is too small and _____ to read. - 新しい靴（くつ）はとても_____です。（歩く）
Atarashii kutsu wa totemo _____ desu.
→ New shoes are very _____ to walk in. - このボタンは小さくて_____です。（押す）
Kono botan wa chiisakute _____ desu.
→ This button is small and _____ to press.
2. Food & Eating Situations
- スープが熱（あつ）すぎて_____です。（飲む）
Suupu ga atsusugite _____ desu.
→ The soup is too hot and _____ to drink. - この魚（さかな）は骨（ほね）が多くて_____です。（食べる）
Kono sakana wa hone ga ookute _____ desu.
→ This fish has too many bones and is _____ to eat. - このケーキはふわふわで_____です。（切る）
Kono keeki wa fuwafuwa de _____ desu.
→ This cake is fluffy and _____ to cut. - このりんごは皮（かわ）が薄（うす）くて_____です。（むく）
Kono ringo wa kawa ga usukute _____ desu.
→ This apple has thin skin and is _____ to peel. - このジュースは甘（あま）くて_____です。（飲む）
Kono juusu wa amakute _____ desu.
→ This juice is sweet and _____ to drink.
3. Work & Study Situations
- この漢字（かんじ）は複雑（ふくざつ）で_____です。（書く）
Kono kanji wa fukuzatsu de _____ desu.
→ This kanji is complicated and _____ to write. - 先生（せんせい）の説明（せつめい）は分かりやすくて_____です。（勉強する）
Sensei no setsumei wa wakari yasukute _____ desu.
→ The teacher’s explanation is clear and _____ to study. - この資料（しりょう）は文字（もじ）が小さくて_____です。（読む）
Kono shiryou wa moji ga chiisakute _____ desu.
→ This document has small text and is _____ to read. - この本（ほん）は子供（こども）でも_____です。（理解する）
Kono hon wa kodomo demo _____ desu.
→ This book is simple, so even kids can _____ it easily. - 彼の声（こえ）ははっきりしていて_____です。（聞く）
Kare no koe wa hakkiri shite ite _____ desu.
→ His voice is clear and _____ to hear.
4. Social & Emotional Situations
- 彼は優（やさ）しくて_____人（ひと）です。（話す）
Kare wa yasashikute _____ hito desu.
→ He is kind and _____ to talk to. - 初対面（しょたいめん）の人（ひと）とは_____です。（話す）
Shotaimen no hito to wa _____ desu.
→ It is _____ to talk to people you meet for the first time. - この映画（えいが）は感動的（かんどうてき）で_____です。（忘れる）
Kono eiga wa kandouteki de _____ desu.
→ This movie is touching and _____ to forget. - この問題（もんだい）はとても_____です。（解く）
Kono mondai wa totemo _____ desu.
→ This problem is very _____ to solve. - 彼の話（はなし）は嘘（うそ）っぽくて_____です。（信じる）
Kare no hanashi wa usoppokute _____ desu.
→ His story sounds like a lie and is _____ to believe.
Try filling in the blanks before checking the answers in the next section! 😊
Answers:
Now, let’s check the correct answers! The correct part is bold, and each sentence includes Romaji and English translation for better understanding.
1. Daily Life Situations
- このペンは書きやすいです。
Kono pen wa kakiyasui desu.
→ This pen is easy to write with. - このコップはガラスでできているので、割れやすいです。
Kono koppu wa garasu de dekite iru node, wareyasui desu.
→ This cup is made of glass, so it’s easy to break. - 彼の字（じ）は小さすぎて読みにくいです。
Kare no ji wa chiisasugite yominikui desu.
→ His handwriting is too small and hard to read. - 新しい靴（くつ）はとても歩きやすいです。
Atarashii kutsu wa totemo arukiyasui desu.
→ New shoes are very easy to walk in. - このボタンは小さくて押しにくいです。
Kono botan wa chiisakute oshinikui desu.
→ This button is small and hard to press.
2. Food & Eating Situations
- スープが熱（あつ）すぎて飲みにくいです。
Suupu ga atsusugite nominikui desu.
→ The soup is too hot and hard to drink. - この魚（さかな）は骨（ほね）が多くて食べにくいです。
Kono sakana wa hone ga ookute tabenikui desu.
→ This fish has too many bones and is hard to eat. - このケーキはふわふわで切りにくいです。
Kono keeki wa fuwafuwa de kirinikui desu.
→ This cake is fluffy and hard to cut. - このりんごは皮（かわ）が薄（うす）くてむきやすいです。
Kono ringo wa kawa ga usukute mukiyasui desu.
→ This apple has thin skin and is easy to peel. - このジュースは甘（あま）くて飲みやすいです。
Kono juusu wa amakute nomiyasui desu.
→ This juice is sweet and easy to drink.
3. Work & Study Situations
- この漢字（かんじ）は複雑（ふくざつ）で書きにくいです。
Kono kanji wa fukuzatsu de kakinikui desu.
→ This kanji is complicated and hard to write. - 先生（せんせい）の説明（せつめい）は分かりやすくて勉強しやすいです。
Sensei no setsumei wa wakariyasukute benkyou shiyasui desu.
→ The teacher’s explanation is clear and easy to study. - この資料（しりょう）は文字（もじ）が小さくて読みにくいです。
Kono shiryou wa moji ga chiisakute yominikui desu.
→ This document has small text and is hard to read. - この本（ほん）は子供（こども）でも理解しやすいです。
Kono hon wa kodomo demo rikai shiyasui desu.
→ This book is simple, so even kids can understand it easily. - 彼の声（こえ）ははっきりしていて聞きやすいです。
Kare no koe wa hakkiri shite ite kikiyasui desu.
→ His voice is clear and easy to hear.
4. Social & Emotional Situations
- 彼は優（やさ）しくて話しやすい人（ひと）です。
Kare wa yasashikute hanashiyasui hito desu.
→ He is kind and easy to talk to. - 初対面（しょたいめん）の人（ひと）とは話しにくいです。
Shotaimen no hito to wa hanashinikui desu.
→ It is hard to talk to people you meet for the first time. - この映画（えいが）は感動的（かんどうてき）で忘れにくいです。
Kono eiga wa kandouteki de wasurenikui desu.
→ This movie is touching and hard to forget. - この問題（もんだい）はとても解きにくいです。
Kono mondai wa totemo tokinikui desu.
→ This problem is very hard to solve. - 彼の話（はなし）は嘘（うそ）っぽくて信じにくいです。
Kare no hanashi wa usoppokute shinjinikui desu.
→ His story sounds like a lie and is hard to believe.
Summary: Key Takeaways
Here’s a quick recap of everything you learned about 〜にくい and 〜やすい:
✅ Meaning & Function:
- 〜にくい: Indicates something is difficult or hard to do.
- 〜やすい: Indicates something is easy or likely to happen.
✅ Usage Situations:
- 〜にくい is used when an action is physically, mentally, or emotionally difficult.
- 〜やすい is used when an action is effortless, convenient, or happens often.
✅ Conjugation Rules:
- Attach to the stem of a verb:
- 食べにくい (hard to eat), 食べやすい (easy to eat).
- Works with all three verb groups in Japanese.
✅ Grammar Rules & Exceptions:
- Does NOT describe a person’s ability (use 〜づらい instead).
- Can be used for emotions, like 忘れにくい (hard to forget).
- Sometimes interchangeable with 〜づらい, but 〜づらい has a stronger nuance of emotional difficulty.
✅ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Using 〜にくい for likelihood (use 〜やすい instead).
❌ Using 〜やすい for subjective difficulty (use 〜づらい if it’s emotional).
❌ Forgetting that these forms do NOT conjugate like regular adjectives.
Conclusion: Mastering 〜にくい and 〜やすい in Japanese
Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve now got a solid understanding of 〜にくい and 〜やすい, two essential grammar points that can help you express difficulty and ease in Japanese. By practicing these structures, you’ll be able to describe actions more naturally and accurately in everyday conversations.
The best way to truly master them is through consistent practice! Try using these forms in your daily sentences, notice how they appear in Japanese books, anime, and conversations, and most importantly—keep practicing with exercises like the ones we covered.
Now, I’d love to hear from you! 😊
- Did you find this guide helpful?
- Do you have any questions about 〜にくい and 〜やすい?
- Want me to cover any other tricky Japanese grammar points?
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
- このペンは書きやすいです。
-
Using 〜とおり in Japanese | My Language Classes
Understanding「〜とおり」 in Japanese
If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably come across the phrase 「〜とおり」 at some point. This grammar pattern is incredibly useful for expressing actions, instructions, and events happening “as expected,” “just as,” or “in the same way” as something else. Whether you’re following a recipe, describing an event, or giving precise instructions, 「〜とおり」 helps you communicate with accuracy and clarity.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:
✅ The true meaning of 「〜とおり」 and why it’s so powerful
✅ How to use 「〜とおり」 correctly in everyday conversations
✅ Common mistakes learners make (and how to avoid them!)
✅ Real-life example sentences with Romaji, and English translationsBy the end of this lesson, you’ll not only understand 「〜とおり」 perfectly, but you’ll also be able to use it naturally, just like a native speaker.
Let’s dive in!
Common Expressions Using 「〜とおり」
Now that you understand the basics of 「〜とおり」, let’s explore 10 useful expressions where this grammar pattern naturally appears. These phrases are commonly used in daily conversations, instructions, and even formal speech.
1. 思ったとおり (Omotta tōri) – Just as I thought
📌 Example:
🔹 思ったとおり、テストは難しかった。
🔹 Omotta tōri, tesuto wa muzukashikatta.
🔹 (Just as I thought, the test was difficult.)2. 予想どおり (Yosō dōri) – As expected
📌 Example:
🔹 予想どおり、雨が降り始めた。
🔹 Yosō dōri, ame ga furi hajimeta.
🔹 (As expected, it started to rain.)3. 指示どおり (Shiji dōri) – According to instructions
📌 Example:
🔹 先生の指示どおりに、宿題をしました。
🔹 Sensei no shiji dōri ni, shukudai o shimashita.
🔹 (I did my homework according to the teacher’s instructions.)4. 予定どおり (Yotei dōri) – As planned
📌 Example:
🔹 旅行は予定どおりに進んでいます。
🔹 Ryokō wa yotei dōri ni susundeimasu.
🔹 (The trip is going as planned.)5. ルールどおり (Rūru dōri) – According to the rules
📌 Example:
🔹 試合はルールどおりに行われました。
🔹 Shiai wa rūru dōri ni okonawaremashita.
🔹 (The match was conducted according to the rules.)6. 予報どおり (Yohō dōri) – Just like the forecast said
📌 Example:
🔹 天気は予報どおりに晴れた。
🔹 Tenki wa yohō dōri ni hareta.
🔹 (The weather cleared up just like the forecast said.)7. 計画どおり (Keikaku dōri) – As per the plan
📌 Example:
🔹 プロジェクトは計画どおりに進んでいます。
🔹 Purojekuto wa keikaku dōri ni susundeimasu.
🔹 (The project is progressing as per the plan.)8. 約束どおり (Yakusoku dōri) – As promised
📌 Example:
🔹 約束どおり、明日会いましょう。
🔹 Yakusoku dōri, ashita aimashō.
🔹 (Let’s meet tomorrow as promised.)9. 本のとおり (Hon no tōri) – Just like the book says
📌 Example:
🔹 この料理は本のとおりに作りました。
🔹 Kono ryōri wa hon no tōri ni tsukurimashita.
🔹 (I made this dish just like the book says.)10. マニュアルのとおり (Manyuaru no tōri) – Following the manual
📌 Example:
🔹 マニュアルのとおりに設定してください。
🔹 Manyuaru no tōri ni settei shite kudasai.
🔹 (Please set it up according to the manual.)These 10 practical expressions will help you use 「〜とおり」 in real-life situations with confidence. Try practicing them in conversations and writing to make them feel natural!
Usage of 「〜とおり」
The grammar point 「〜とおり」 is highly versatile and used in various real-life situations. Below are the key scenarios where this expression is commonly applied:
1. Expressing “Just as Expected”
You can use 「〜とおり」 to show that something happened exactly as you predicted or expected.
✅ Example:
🔹 思ったとおり、試験は難しかった。
🔹 Omotta tōri, shiken wa muzukashikatta.
🔹 (Just as I thought, the exam was difficult.)
2. Following Instructions or Orders
When you need to indicate that something was done according to given instructions, rules, or commands, 「〜とおり」 is the perfect phrase to use.
✅ Example:
🔹 先生の指示どおりに宿題をやりました。
🔹 Sensei no shiji dōri ni shukudai o yarimashita.
🔹 (I did my homework according to the teacher’s instructions.)
3. Describing Plans and Predictions
If something happens as planned or as forecasted, 「〜とおり」 helps to express that the outcome matched the expectation.
✅ Example:
🔹 旅行は予定どおりに進んでいます。
🔹 Ryokō wa yotei dōri ni susundeimasu.
🔹 (The trip is going as planned.)✅ Example:
🔹 天気は予報どおりに晴れた。
🔹 Tenki wa yohō dōri ni hareta.
🔹 (The weather cleared up just like the forecast said.)
4. Performing Actions in the Same Manner
You can use 「〜とおり」 when instructing someone to follow a manual, book, or any set of instructions exactly as given.
✅ Example:
🔹 マニュアルのとおりに設定してください。
🔹 Manyuaru no tōri ni settei shite kudasai.
🔹 (Please set it up according to the manual.)✅ Example:
🔹 本のとおりに料理を作りました。
🔹 Hon no tōri ni ryōri o tsukurimashita.
🔹 (I made the dish exactly as written in the book.)
5. Describing Rules and Regulations
When something follows a set of rules, laws, or official guidelines, 「〜とおり」 can be used to describe adherence to them.
✅ Example:
🔹 試合はルールどおりに行われました。
🔹 Shiai wa rūru dōri ni okonawaremashita.
🔹 (The match was conducted according to the rules.)
6. Keeping Promises
When you want to emphasize that something was done as promised, you can use 「〜とおり」 to confirm that the commitment was fulfilled.
✅ Example:
🔹 約束どおりにお金を返しました。
🔹 Yakusoku dōri ni okane o kaeshimashita.
🔹 (I returned the money as promised.)
7. Explaining Results Matching Expectations
When an outcome perfectly matches an expectation or prediction, 「〜とおり」 expresses that sense of alignment.
✅ Example:
🔹 予想どおり、彼が試合に勝った。
🔹 Yosō dōri, kare ga shiai ni katta.
🔹 (As expected, he won the match.)
8. Giving Step-by-Step Instructions
If you need to explain how to do something in a step-by-step manner, you can use 「〜とおり」 to ensure that actions are followed precisely.
✅ Example:
🔹 私の言うとおりにしてください。
🔹 Watashi no iu tōri ni shite kudasai.
🔹 (Please do exactly as I say.)These are the most common situations where 「〜とおり」 is used in Japanese. This grammar point is essential for daily communication, making instructions clear, and expressing expectations accurately.
Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with Verb
The grammar point 「〜とおり」 can be used with verbs in different forms. Below is a complete breakdown of how to use it with:
- Dictionary Form (Plain Form) → (Verb as is)
- Past Form (Ta-form) → (Verb in た-form)
- Stem Form (Masu-stem for ます verbs) → (Verb without ます)
1. Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with Different Verb Groups
Verb Group Dictionary Form (Plain Form) + とおり Past Form (Ta-form) + とおり Stem Form (Masu-stem) + とおり Group 1 (う-Verbs) 読むとおり (Yomu tōri) → (As one reads…) 読んだとおり (Yonda tōri) → (As one read…) 読みとおり (Yomi tōri) → (As one is reading…) Group 2 (る-Verbs) 見るとおり (Miru tōri) → (As one sees…) 見たとおり (Mita tōri) → (As one saw…) 見とおり (Mi tōri) → (As one is seeing…) Group 3 (Irregular Verbs) する通り (Suru tōri) → (As one does…) 来るとおり (Kuru tōri) → (As one comes…) したとおり (Shita tōri) → (As one did…) 来たとおり (Kita tōri) → (As one came…) しとおり (Shi tōri) → (As one is doing…) 来とおり (Ki tōri) → (As one is coming…)
2. Example Sentences for Each Verb Group in Different Forms
📌 Group 1 (う-Verbs) Example: 「書く」 (kaku – to write)
✅ Dictionary Form:
🔹 先生が書くとおりにメモしてください。
🔹 Sensei ga kaku tōri ni memo shite kudasai.
🔹 (Please take notes exactly as the teacher writes.)✅ Past Form (Ta-form):
🔹 先生が書いたとおりに答えを書いてください。
🔹 Sensei ga kaita tōri ni kotae o kaite kudasai.
🔹 (Please write the answer exactly as the teacher wrote.)✅ Stem Form (Masu-stem):
🔹 先生の書きとおりに書けば大丈夫です。
🔹 Sensei no kaki tōri ni kakeba daijōbu desu.
🔹 (If you write as the teacher is writing, you’ll be fine.)
📌 Group 2 (る-Verbs) Example: 「食べる」 (taberu – to eat)
✅ Dictionary Form:
🔹 レシピに書いてあるとおりに食べると美味しいです。
🔹 Reshipi ni kaite aru tōri ni taberu to oishii desu.
🔹 (It’s delicious if you eat it as written in the recipe.)✅ Past Form (Ta-form):
🔹 レシピのとおりに食べたら、美味しかった。
🔹 Reshipi no tōri ni tabetara, oishikatta.
🔹 (It was delicious when I ate it as per the recipe.)✅ Stem Form (Masu-stem):
🔹 レシピの食べとおりに作れば大丈夫です。
🔹 Reshipi no tabe tōri ni tsukureba daijōbu desu.
🔹 (If you cook it as you are eating, it will be fine.)
📌 Group 3 (Irregular Verbs) Example: 「する」 (suru – to do) & 「来る」 (kuru – to come)
✅ Dictionary Form:
🔹 彼がする通りにやってください。
🔹 Kare ga suru tōri ni yatte kudasai.
🔹 (Please do it just as he does.)✅ Past Form (Ta-form):
🔹 彼がしたとおりにやれば成功します。
🔹 Kare ga shita tōri ni yareba seikō shimasu.
🔹 (If you do it as he did, you will succeed.)✅ Stem Form (Masu-stem):
🔹 彼のしとおりに練習すれば上手になります。
🔹 Kare no shi tōri ni renshū sureba jōzu ni narimasu.
🔹 (If you practice as he is doing, you will improve.)
📌 Example with 「来る」 (Kuru – to come)
✅ Dictionary Form:
🔹 先生が来るとおりに準備してください。
🔹 Sensei ga kuru tōri ni junbi shite kudasai.
🔹 (Prepare as the teacher comes.)✅ Past Form (Ta-form):
🔹 先生が来たとおりに、試験が始まります。
🔹 Sensei ga kita tōri ni, shiken ga hajimarimasu.
🔹 (As the teacher arrived, the exam started.)✅ Stem Form (Masu-stem):
🔹 先生の来とおりに行動してください。
🔹 Sensei no ki tōri ni kōdō shite kudasai.
🔹 (Act as the teacher is coming.)By mastering the different verb conjugations with 「〜とおり」, you can express actions that are done exactly as expected, predicted, or instructed. Whether you are following a manual, repeating someone’s actions, or verifying if something happened as anticipated, this grammar pattern is essential for clear and natural Japanese communication!
Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with Nouns and Adjectives
In addition to verbs, 「〜とおり」 can also be used with nouns and adjectives to express “as expected,” “just like,” or “exactly as.” Below is a detailed breakdown of how to use 「〜とおり」 with:
- Nouns
- い-Adjectives
- な-Adjectives
1. Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with Nouns
📌 Rule for Nouns:
For nouns, 「の」 is added before 「とおり」 to link the two words.
🔹 Noun + の + とおり → (As per [Noun], Just like [Noun])Noun Example Sentence Romaji English Translation 予想 (yosou) – Expectation 予想のとおり、試験は難しかった。 Yosou no tōri, shiken wa muzukashikatta. As expected, the exam was difficult. 説明 (setsumei) – Explanation 先生の説明のとおりにやってください。 Sensei no setsumei no tōri ni yatte kudasai. Please do it exactly as explained by the teacher. 計画 (keikaku) – Plan 計画のとおりに進めます。 Keikaku no tōri ni susumemasu. We will proceed according to the plan. 指示 (shiji) – Instructions 指示のとおりに行動してください。 Shiji no tōri ni kōdō shite kudasai. Please act as per the instructions. 地図 (chizu) – Map 地図のとおりに行けば、迷いません。 Chizu no tōri ni ikeba, mayoimasen. If you follow the map, you won’t get lost.
2. Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with い-Adjectives
📌 Rule for い-Adjectives:
Since い-adjectives cannot directly attach to 「とおり」, they are converted into their noun form by adding 「こと」 before 「とおり」.
🔹 い-Adjective + こと + とおり → (As [Adjective] as expected)い-Adjective Example Sentence Romaji English Translation 簡単 (kantan) – Simple 思ったこととおり、問題は簡単だった。 Omotta koto tōri, mondai wa kantan datta. As I thought, the problem was simple. 難しい (muzukashii) – Difficult 聞いたこととおり、その試験は難しい。 Kiita koto tōri, sono shiken wa muzukashii. As I heard, that exam is difficult. 楽しい (tanoshii) – Fun 予想したこととおり、旅行はとても楽しかった。 Yosou shita koto tōri, ryokō wa totemo tanoshikatta. As I expected, the trip was really fun. 正しい (tadashii) – Correct あなたの言ったこととおり、それは正しかった。 Anata no itta koto tōri, sore wa tadashikatta. As you said, that was correct. 高い (takai) – Expensive 店員が言ったこととおり、その時計は高かった。 Ten’in ga itta koto tōri, sono tokei wa takakatta. As the clerk said, that watch was expensive.
3. Conjugation of 「〜とおり」 with な-Adjectives
📌 Rule for な-Adjectives:
Since な-adjectives function like nouns, they follow the same rule as nouns and use 「の」 before 「とおり」.
🔹 な-Adjective + な + の + とおり → (As [Adjective] as expected)な-Adjective Example Sentence Romaji English Translation 静か (shizuka) – Quiet 彼の部屋は聞いたのとおり、静かだった。 Kare no heya wa kiita no tōri, shizuka datta. As I heard, his room was quiet. 有名 (yuumei) – Famous 彼女は写真のとおり、有名な人です。 Kanojo wa shashin no tōri, yūmei na hito desu. As in the photo, she is a famous person. 便利 (benri) – Convenient このアプリは説明のとおり、便利ですね。 Kono apuri wa setsumei no tōri, benri desu ne. As described, this app is convenient. 元気 (genki) – Energetic あなたの言ったのとおり、彼は元気だった。 Anata no itta no tōri, kare wa genki datta. As you said, he was energetic. 親切 (shinsetsu) – Kind その人は紹介のとおり、とても親切だった。 Sono hito wa shōkai no tōri, totemo shinsetsu datta. As introduced, that person was very kind. By learning how to use 「〜とおり」 with nouns, い-adjectives, and な-adjectives, you can express confirmation, expectations, and precise descriptions in various situations.
Got it! Here’s the Grammar Rules section with the “How to Use 「〜とおり」 with Different Word Types” part removed.
Grammar Rules of 「〜とおり」
The 「〜とおり」 grammar structure is used to express that something happens exactly as expected, planned, instructed, or perceived. Below are all the essential grammar rules related to 「〜とおり」, along with clear explanations and examples.
1️⃣ Basic Sentence Structure
「〜とおり」 is commonly used in the following pattern:
🔹 [Action/Noun] + とおり (に) + [Main Clause]
(Do something exactly as [Action/Noun] describes.)Examples:
✅ 予想のとおり、試験は難しかった。
(Yosou no tōri, shiken wa muzukashikatta.)
➡️ As expected, the exam was difficult.✅ 先生が言ったとおりに、宿題をしました。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni, shukudai o shimashita.)
➡️ I did my homework exactly as the teacher said.
2️⃣ 「〜とおり」 vs. 「〜のとおり」
The choice between 「〜とおり」 and 「〜のとおり」 depends on the word before it.
Word Before 「とおり」 Grammar Rule Verbs Use dictionary form (plain form) or past form (た-form) before 「とおり」. Nouns Attach 「の」 before 「とおり」. Examples:
✅ 計画のとおりに進めます。
(Keikaku no tōri ni susumemasu.)
➡️ We will proceed according to the plan. (Noun + のとおり)✅ 聞いたとおりにやってください。
(Kiita tōri ni yatte kudasai.)
➡️ Please do it as you heard. (Verb in past form + とおり)
3️⃣ Optional Use of 「に」 after 「とおり」
Sometimes, 「に」 is added after 「とおり」, depending on the sentence structure.
Form Example Sentence Romaji Translation Without に 予想のとおり、彼は合格した。 Yosou no tōri, kare wa goukaku shita. As expected, he passed. With に 先生が言ったとおりにやりました。 Sensei ga itta tōri ni yarimashita. I did it exactly as the teacher said. ✅ 「に」 is optional if the meaning is still clear without it.
✅ 「に」 is required when followed by a verb, such as やる (do), 行く (go), 書く (write), 話す (speak).
4️⃣ 「〜とおり」 vs. Similar Expressions
Grammar Point Meaning Example Sentence Translation 〜とおり “As expected / As instructed” 先生が言ったとおりにやってください。 Do it as the teacher said. 〜ように “So that / In order to” 風邪を引かないように、マスクをしてください。 Wear a mask so that you don’t catch a cold. 〜まま “As is / Leave as is” 電気をつけたまま寝てしまった。 I fell asleep with the lights on. ✅ 「〜とおり」 focuses on following instructions, plans, or expectations.
✅ 「〜ように」 focuses on purpose or results.
✅ 「〜まま」 describes unchanged states.
Things to Keep in Mind When Using 「〜とおり」
Understanding 「〜とおり」 is straightforward, but there are a few tricky points and exceptions to be aware of. Below are some important rules, nuances, and mistakes to avoid when using this grammar structure.
1️⃣ Be Careful with 「に」 After 「とおり」
- The particle 「に」 is sometimes added after 「とおり」, but not always.
- 「に」 is required when a verb follows 「とおり」.
- 「に」 is optional when there is no verb immediately after 「とおり」.
Examples:
✅ 先生が言ったとおりにやってください。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni yatte kudasai.)
➡️ Do it exactly as the teacher said. (Verb follows → に is necessary)✅ 予想のとおり、彼は合格した。
(Yosou no tōri, kare wa goukaku shita.)
➡️ As expected, he passed. (No verb immediately after → に is not used)
2️⃣ 「〜とおり」 Changes to 「〜どおり」 in Some Cases
- When attached to certain nouns, 「とおり」 becomes 「どおり」 instead.
- This happens mainly with common set expressions.
Examples:
✅ 予定どおりに試験が終わった。
(Yotei dōri ni shiken ga owatta.)
➡️ The exam ended as scheduled. (Instead of 予定のとおり, we use 予定どおり.)✅ 指示どおりに動いてください。
(Shiji dōri ni ugoite kudasai.)
➡️ Move according to the instructions.🔹 Common nouns that use 「どおり」 instead of 「とおり」:
- 予定どおり (As scheduled)
- 指示どおり (As instructed)
- 思ったどおり (As I thought)
- 希望どおり (As hoped)
💡 Tip: If a noun directly follows 「とおり」, check if it has a common どおり form!
3️⃣ Difference Between 「〜とおり」 and 「〜まま」
🔹 「〜とおり」 → Focuses on following instructions or expectations.
🔹 「〜まま」 → Focuses on keeping something unchanged.Examples:
✅ 先生が言ったとおりにやりました。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni yarimashita.)
➡️ I did it exactly as the teacher said. (Followed the instructions)✅ 電気をつけたまま寝てしまった。
(Denki o tsuketa mama nete shimatta.)
➡️ I fell asleep with the lights on. (State remained unchanged)💡 Tip: If you’re following a plan or instructions, use 「とおり」.
If you’re keeping a condition unchanged, use 「まま」 instead.
4️⃣ Be Careful with Negative Forms
- When using 「〜とおり」 in negative sentences, be careful with meaning.
- If the first clause is negative, the second clause also follows the negative meaning.
Examples:
✅ 思ったとおり、彼は来なかった。
(Omotta tōri, kare wa konakatta.)
➡️ Just as I thought, he didn’t come.✅ 聞いたとおりにしなかったので、失敗しました。
(Kiita tōri ni shinakatta node, shippai shimashita.)
➡️ I failed because I didn’t do it as I was told.💡 Tip: If using 「〜とおり」 in a negative sentence, make sure the meaning is logical!
5️⃣ Difference Between 「〜ように」 and 「〜とおり」
Grammar Meaning Example Translation 〜とおり As expected / instructed 先生が言ったとおりに書いてください。 Write as the teacher said. 〜ように So that / In order to 風邪を引かないようにマスクをしてください。 Wear a mask so that you don’t catch a cold. 💡 Tip: If you’re talking about following instructions → Use 「〜とおり」.
If you’re talking about purpose or goals → Use 「〜ように」 instead.
6️⃣ Watch Out for Particle Changes When Using 「〜のとおり」
- When a noun comes before 「〜とおり」, use 「の」.
- When a verb comes before 「〜とおり」, do not use 「の」.
Examples:
✅ 先生の指示のとおりにやってください。
(Sensei no shiji no tōri ni yatte kudasai.)
➡️ Do it according to the teacher’s instructions. (Noun → Use の)✅ 先生が言ったとおりにやってください。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni yatte kudasai.)
➡️ Do it exactly as the teacher said. (Verb → No の)💡 Tip: If the phrase before 「とおり」 is a noun, always use 「の」!
7️⃣ 「〜とおりにする」 vs. 「〜とおりになる」
- 「〜とおりにする」 → You actively do something as planned.
- 「〜とおりになる」 → Something naturally happens as expected.
Examples:
✅ 先生が言ったとおりにしました。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni shimashita.)
➡️ I did exactly as the teacher said. (You actively followed instructions)✅ 予想のとおりになった。
(Yosou no tōri ni natta.)
➡️ It turned out just as expected. (Happened naturally)💡 Tip: If you’re taking action, use 「する」.
If something happens naturally, use 「なる」.
Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences using 「〜とおり」to help you understand its real-life usage.
Following Instructions or Expectations
- 先生が言ったとおりに宿題をしました。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni shukudai o shimashita.)
➡️ I did my homework exactly as the teacher said. - レシピのとおりに料理を作りました。
(Reshipi no tōri ni ryōri o tsukurimashita.)
➡️ I cooked according to the recipe. - 説明書のとおりにパソコンを設定しました。
(Setsumeisho no tōri ni pasokon o settei shimashita.)
➡️ I set up the computer according to the manual. - 先生の指示のとおりに動いてください。
(Sensei no shiji no tōri ni ugoite kudasai.)
➡️ Please move according to the teacher’s instructions. - 私が言ったとおりにやれば、大丈夫です。
(Watashi ga itta tōri ni yareba, daijōbu desu.)
➡️ If you do it as I said, it will be fine.
Describing Things That Happened as Expected
- 予想のとおり、試験は難しかった。
(Yosou no tōri, shiken wa muzukashikatta.)
➡️ As expected, the exam was difficult. - 思ったとおりの結果でした。
(Omotta tōri no kekka deshita.)
➡️ The result was just as I thought. - 天気予報のとおりに雨が降りました。
(Tenki yohō no tōri ni ame ga furimashita.)
➡️ It rained just as the weather forecast predicted. - 彼は私が考えたとおりの人でした。
(Kare wa watashi ga kangaeta tōri no hito deshita.)
➡️ He was exactly the kind of person I thought he would be. - 噂のとおり、そのレストランの料理は美味しかった。
(Uwasa no tōri, sono resutoran no ryōri wa oishikatta.)
➡️ As the rumors said, the food at that restaurant was delicious.
Following Movements, Plans, or Changes
- 地図のとおりに進んでください。
(Chizu no tōri ni susunde kudasai.)
➡️ Please follow the map to proceed. - スケジュールのとおりに会議を進めます。
(Sukejūru no tōri ni kaigi o susumemasu.)
➡️ We will proceed with the meeting according to the schedule. - 計画どおりに仕事が進んでいます。
(Keikaku dōri ni shigoto ga susunde imasu.)
➡️ The work is progressing as planned. - マニュアルのとおりにソフトをインストールしてください。
(Manyuaru no tōri ni sofuto o insutōru shite kudasai.)
➡️ Please install the software according to the manual. - 道のとおりに歩けば、駅に着きます。
(Michi no tōri ni arukeba, eki ni tsukimasu.)
➡️ If you walk along the road, you will reach the station.
Expressing Personal Thoughts and Opinions
- あなたが言ったとおり、日本の夏はとても暑いですね。
(Anata ga itta tōri, Nihon no natsu wa totemo atsui desu ne.)
➡️ As you said, summers in Japan are very hot. - 映画は期待したとおりに面白かったです。
(Eiga wa kitai shita tōri ni omoshirokatta desu.)
➡️ The movie was as interesting as I expected. - 彼の話は聞いたとおりに正しかった。
(Kare no hanashi wa kiita tōri ni tadashikatta.)
➡️ His story was correct just as I had heard. - 彼女の料理は評判のとおりに美味しかった。
(Kanojo no ryōri wa hyōban no tōri ni oishikatta.)
➡️ Her cooking was as delicious as the reviews said. - 私が想像したとおりの素晴らしい景色でした。
(Watashi ga sōzō shita tōri no subarashii keshiki deshita.)
➡️ It was a magnificent view, just as I had imagined.
These example sentences cover different contexts where 「〜とおり」 is used. Let me know in comment if you want more examples! 😊
Exercise: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences using 「〜とおり」 appropriately. The verb, noun, or adjective that needs to be conjugated is given in parentheses (bold).
- 先生が ______ に答えてください。（言う）
- ______ に料理を作りました。（レシピ）
- ______ にパソコンを設定しました。（説明書）
- 試験は ______ 、難しかった。（予想する）
- 雨が ______ に降りました。（天気予報）
- ______ に進んでください。（地図）
- 先生の指示の ______ に動いてください。（とおり）
- 彼女の料理は ______ に美味しかった。（評判）
- 彼は私が ______ の人でした。（考える）
- あなたが ______ 、彼は本当に親切な人ですね。（言う）
- ______ に仕事が進んでいます。（計画）
- ______ に歩けば、駅に着きます。（道）
- 私が ______ の結果でした。（思う）
- 私が ______ の素晴らしい景色でした。（想像する）
- 彼の話は ______ に正しかった。（聞く）
- ______ にソフトをインストールしてください。（マニュアル）
- ______ に会議を進めます。（スケジュール）
- 先生が ______ にやれば、大丈夫です。（言う）
- 映画は ______ に面白かったです。（期待する）
- ______ 、そのレストランの料理は美味しかった。（噂）
Answers
Here are the correct answers along with Romaji and English translations.
- 先生が 言ったとおり に答えてください。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni kotaete kudasai.)
➡️ Please answer as the teacher said. - レシピのとおり に料理を作りました。
(Reshipi no tōri ni ryōri o tsukurimashita.)
➡️ I cooked according to the recipe. - 説明書のとおり にパソコンを設定しました。
(Setsumeisho no tōri ni pasokon o settei shimashita.)
➡️ I set up the computer according to the manual. - 試験は 予想したとおり 、難しかった。
(Shiken wa yosou shita tōri, muzukashikatta.)
➡️ The exam was as difficult as predicted. - 雨が 天気予報のとおり に降りました。
(Ame ga tenki yohō no tōri ni furimashita.)
➡️ It rained just as the weather forecast predicted. - 地図のとおり に進んでください。
(Chizu no tōri ni susunde kudasai.)
➡️ Please follow the map to proceed. - 先生の指示の とおり に動いてください。
(Sensei no shiji no tōri ni ugoite kudasai.)
➡️ Please move according to the teacher’s instructions. - 彼女の料理は 評判のとおり に美味しかった。
(Kanojo no ryōri wa hyōban no tōri ni oishikatta.)
➡️ Her cooking was as delicious as the reviews said. - 彼は私が 考えたとおり の人でした。
(Kare wa watashi ga kangaeta tōri no hito deshita.)
➡️ He was exactly the kind of person I thought he would be. - あなたが 言ったとおり 、彼は本当に親切な人ですね。
(Anata ga itta tōri, kare wa hontō ni shinsetsu na hito desu ne.)
➡️ As you said, he is really a kind person. - 計画どおり に仕事が進んでいます。
(Keikaku dōri ni shigoto ga susunde imasu.)
➡️ The work is progressing as planned. - 道のとおり に歩けば、駅に着きます。
(Michi no tōri ni arukeba, eki ni tsukimasu.)
➡️ If you walk along the road, you will reach the station. - 私が 思ったとおり の結果でした。
(Watashi ga omotta tōri no kekka deshita.)
➡️ The result was just as I thought. - 私が 想像したとおり の素晴らしい景色でした。
(Watashi ga sōzō shita tōri no subarashii keshiki deshita.)
➡️ It was a magnificent view, just as I had imagined. - 彼の話は 聞いたとおり に正しかった。
(Kare no hanashi wa kiita tōri ni tadashikatta.)
➡️ His story was correct just as I had heard. - マニュアルのとおり にソフトをインストールしてください。
(Manyuaru no tōri ni sofuto o insutōru shite kudasai.)
➡️ Please install the software according to the manual. - スケジュールのとおり に会議を進めます。
(Sukejūru no tōri ni kaigi o susumemasu.)
➡️ We will proceed with the meeting according to the schedule. - 先生が 言ったとおり にやれば、大丈夫です。
(Sensei ga itta tōri ni yareba, daijōbu desu.)
➡️ If you do it as the teacher said, it will be fine. - 映画は 期待したとおり に面白かったです。
(Eiga wa kitai shita tōri ni omoshirokatta desu.)
➡️ The movie was as interesting as I expected. - 噂どおり 、そのレストランの料理は美味しかった。
(Uwasa dōri, sono resutoran no ryōri wa oishikatta.)
➡️ As the rumors said, the food at that restaurant was delicious.
This exercise helps reinforce 「〜とおり」 usage with different types of words.
Summary of 「〜とおり」
Here’s a quick recap of the key points covered in this blog:
- Meaning & Usage:
- 「〜とおり」 is used to express “as, just as, according to” in Japanese.
- It conveys that something happens exactly as expected, planned, or instructed.
- Common Sentence Structures:
- Verb (Dictionary/Past form) + とおり → As (someone) does/did
- Noun + のとおり → According to (noun)
- Noun + どおり → As (noun) states/shows
- Adjective (な/い) + とおり → Just as (adjective) describes
- Situations Where 「〜とおり」 is Used:
- Following instructions (マニュアルのとおりに設定する – Set it up as per the manual.)
- Predictions coming true (予想したとおり、試験は難しかった – As expected, the test was difficult.)
- Following someone’s words (先生が言ったとおりにする – Do as the teacher said.)
- Describing something as imagined (想像したとおりの景色 – A view just as imagined.)
- Key Considerations:
- 「〜とおり」 can be used with verbs, nouns, and adjectives, but the structure changes slightly.
- Noun + のとおり and Noun + どおり are interchangeable in many cases, but どおり is more commonly used with set phrases.
- Verb + とおり requires proper conjugation, especially for past and dictionary forms.
- Be mindful of the context – it should indicate similarity, accuracy, or following a reference.
- By mastering 「〜とおり」, you can express instructions, expectations, and confirmations naturally in Japanese. Keep practicing, and soon, using this grammar pattern will feel effortless!
Mastering 「〜とおり」 is essential for expressing actions, expectations, and results accurately in Japanese. Whether you’re following instructions, describing events as predicted, or comparing reality with expectations, this grammar structure allows you to communicate with clarity and precision.
By understanding its different forms—when used with verbs, nouns, and adjectives—you can naturally incorporate it into daily conversations and written Japanese. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to use 「〜とおり」 effortlessly, just like native speakers do.
So, keep practicing with real-life examples, listen to how native speakers use it, and don’t hesitate to try it in your own sentences. With time and effort, you’ll be able to use 「〜とおり」 just as fluently as you imagined! 🚀🔥
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
-
〜み: The Nominalizer for Adjectives/Verbs | My Language Classes
Understanding 〜み in Japanese
Japanese is a language rich in nuances, and one of its unique features is the use of nominalizers like 〜み. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn adjectives into nouns to express abstract qualities or feelings, 〜み is your go-to tool.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the meaning, formation, and usage of 〜み, along with plenty of examples to help you master this essential grammar point.
What is 〜み?
〜み is a nominalizer used primarily with adjectives (and sometimes verbs) to turn them into nouns. It expresses an abstract quality, state, or feeling associated with the original word. For example, 甘い (amai, sweet) becomes 甘み (amami, sweetness), which refers to the quality of being sweet.
This form is commonly used in everyday Japanese to describe sensations, emotions, or characteristics. It’s a versatile tool that adds depth to your expressions.
Formation of 〜み
1. With Adjectives
To form 〜み with adjectives, remove the final い (if it’s an い-adjective) and add み.
Example:
- 甘い (amai, sweet) → 甘み (amami, sweetness)
- 痛い (itai, painful) → 痛み (itami, pain)
2. With Nouns
Some nouns can also take 〜み to express a related quality or state.
Example:
- 強さ (tsuyosa, strength) → 強み (tsuyomi, strong point)
- 深さ (fukasa, depth) → 深み (fukami, depth/richness)
3. With Verbs
While less common, some verbs can also take 〜み to express a resulting state or quality.
Example:
- 楽しむ (tanoshimu, to enjoy) → 楽しみ (tanoshimi, enjoyment)
- 悲しむ (kanashimu, to grieve) → 悲しみ (kanashimi, sadness)
Usage of 〜み
The 〜み form is used in various situations to describe abstract qualities, emotions, or states. Here are some common scenarios:
- Describing Sensations:
- 甘み (amami, sweetness)
- 苦み (nigami, bitterness)
- Expressing Emotions:
- 悲しみ (kanashimi, sadness)
- 楽しみ (tanoshimi, enjoyment)
- Highlighting Characteristics:
- 強み (tsuyomi, strong point)
- 弱み (yowami, weakness)
- Describing Physical States:
- 痛み (itami, pain)
- 重み (omomi, heaviness)
List of Verbs, Nouns, and Adjectives with 〜み Form
Original Word 〜み Form Example Sentence Romaji English Meaning 甘い (amai, sweet) 甘み (amami, sweetness) この果物は甘みがある。 Kono kudamono wa amami ga aru. This fruit has sweetness. 痛い (itai, painful) 痛み (itami, pain) 彼は痛みを感じた。 Kare wa itami o kanjita. He felt pain. 強い (tsuyoi, strong) 強み (tsuyomi, strong point) 彼の強みは忍耐力だ。 Kare no tsuyomi wa nintairyoku da. His strong point is patience. 深い (fukai, deep) 深み (fukami, depth) この話には深みがある。 Kono hanashi ni wa fukami ga aru. This story has depth. 悲しむ (kanashimu, to grieve) 悲しみ (kanashimi, sadness) 彼女の目には悲しみがあった。 Kanojo no me ni wa kanashimi ga atta. There was sadness in her eyes. 楽しむ (tanoshimu, to enjoy) 楽しみ (tanoshimi, enjoyment) 週末の旅行が楽しみだ。 Shuumatsu no ryokou ga tanoshimi da. I’m looking forward to the weekend trip.
More Example Sentences
- この料理は苦みが特徴です。
Romaji: Kono ryouri wa nigami ga tokuchou desu.
English: This dish is characterized by its bitterness. - 彼の言葉には重みがあった。
Romaji: Kare no kotoba ni wa omomi ga atta.
English: His words had weight. - このワインは酸みがきいている。
Romaji: Kono wain wa suami ga kiite iru.
English: This wine has a nice acidity. - 彼女の笑顔には温かみがある。
Romaji: Kanojo no egao ni wa atatakami ga aru.
English: Her smile has warmth. - この絵には深みがある。
Romaji: Kono e ni wa fukami ga aru.
English: This painting has depth. - 彼の強みはリーダーシップです。
Romaji: Kare no tsuyomi wa riidaashippu desu.
English: His strong point is leadership. - このお茶は甘みが少ない。
Romaji: Kono ocha wa amami ga sukunai.
English: This tea has little sweetness. - 彼の目には悲しみが浮かんでいた。
Romaji: Kare no me ni wa kanashimi ga ukande ita.
English: Sadness was visible in his eyes. - この音楽には楽しみがある。
Romaji: Kono ongaku ni wa tanoshimi ga aru.
English: This music has a sense of enjoyment. - 彼は痛みに耐えた。
Romaji: Kare wa itami ni taeta.
English: He endured the pain.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Not All Adjectives Can Take 〜み: Some adjectives, like 新しい (atarashii, new), don’t naturally take 〜み.
- Abstract Nature: 〜み is used for abstract qualities, not concrete objects.
- Context Matters: The meaning of 〜み can vary depending on the context.
- Less Common with Verbs: While possible, 〜み is rarely used with verbs compared to adjectives.
Fill in the Blanks
- このケーキは______がある。 (甘い)
- 彼の______は優しさです。 (強い)
- このコーヒーは______が強い。 (苦い)
- 彼女の声には______があった。 (暖かい)
- この小説には______がある。 (深い)
- 彼は______に耐えた。 (痛い)
- このワインは______がきいている。 (すあい)
- 彼の目には______が浮かんでいた。 (悲しい)
- 週末の旅行が______だ。 (楽しい)
- この料理は______が特徴です。 (苦い)
Answers:
- 甘み
- 強み
- 苦み
- 温かみ
- 深み
- 痛み
- 酸み
- 悲しみ
- 楽しみ
- 苦み
Conclusion
Mastering 〜み is a great way to add depth and nuance to your Japanese. Whether you’re describing emotions, sensations, or characteristics, this nominalizer is a powerful tool in your language arsenal. Practice the examples, try the fill-in-the-blanks, and soon you’ll be using 〜み like a native speaker!
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
-
Understanding 〜さ: The Nominalizer for Adjectives | My Language Classes
Using 〜さ as a Nominalizer
When learning Japanese, one of the most useful grammatical tools you’ll encounter is the nominalizer 〜さ. This simple yet powerful suffix transforms adjectives into nouns, allowing you to express concepts like “height,” “beauty,” or “difficulty” in a clear and concise way.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the meaning, formation, and usage of 〜さ, along with plenty of examples to help you master this essential Japanese grammar point.
What is 〜さ?
In Japanese, 〜さ is a nominalizer that turns adjectives into nouns. It is used to express the degree, state, or quality of something. For example, the adjective 高い (takai), meaning “high” or “expensive,” becomes 高さ (takasa), which means “height” or “cost.” This makes 〜さ incredibly useful for describing abstract concepts or measurable qualities.
Formation of 〜さ
The formation of 〜さ is straightforward, but it varies slightly depending on the type of adjective or word it’s attached to. Let’s break it down:
1. With い-Adjectives (i-Adjectives)
Remove the final い (i) and add さ (sa).
Example:- 高い (takai) → 高さ (takasa)
- 楽しい (tanoshii) → 楽しさ (tanoshisa)
2. With な-Adjectives (na-Adjectives)
Remove the な (na) and add さ (sa).
Example:- 静か (shizuka) → 静かさ (shizukasa)
- 便利 (benri) → 便利さ (benrisa)
3. With Nouns
〜さ is rarely used with nouns directly, but it can be added to noun-like adjectives (e.g., 元気 → 元気さ).
Usage of 〜さ
The 〜さ form is used in various situations to express the degree, state, or quality of something. Here are some common scenarios:
- Describing Physical Attributes
- この山の高さはどれくらいですか？
(Kono yama no takasa wa dore kurai desu ka?)
How high is this mountain?
- この山の高さはどれくらいですか？
- Expressing Abstract Qualities
- 彼女の優しさに感動しました。
(Kanojo no yasashisa ni kandou shimashita.)
I was moved by her kindness.
- 彼女の優しさに感動しました。
- Comparing Degrees or Levels
- この問題の難しさはレベルが高い。
(Kono mondai no muzukashisa wa reberu ga takai.)
The difficulty level of this problem is high.
- この問題の難しさはレベルが高い。
- Emphasizing a State or Condition
- この部屋の広さは十分です。
(Kono heya no hirosa wa juubun desu.)
The spaciousness of this room is sufficient.
- この部屋の広さは十分です。
List of Adjectives with 〜さ Form
Here’s a table showcasing common words with their 〜さ forms, along with example sentences:
Original Word 〜さ Form Example Sentence (Japanese) Romaji English Meaning 高い (takai) 高さ (takasa) このビルの高さはすごい。 Kono biru no takasa wa sugoi. The height of this building is amazing. 楽しい (tanoshii) 楽しさ (tanoshisa) 旅行の楽しさは言葉では表せない。 Ryokou no tanoshisa wa kotoba de wa arawasenai. The joy of traveling cannot be expressed in words. 静か (shizuka) 静かさ (shizukasa) この公園の静かさが好きです。 Kono kouen no shizukasa ga suki desu. I like the quietness of this park. 便利 (benri) 便利さ (benrisa) このアプリの便利さに驚いた。 Kono apuri no benrisa ni odoroita. I was amazed by the convenience of this app. 元気 (genki) 元気さ (genkisa) 彼の元気さはみんなの励みになる。 Kare no genkisa wa minna no hagemi ni naru. His energy motivates everyone.
More Example Sentences
Here are 10 additional examples to help you understand the usage of 〜さ in context:
- この湖の深さはどのくらいですか？
(Kono mizuumi no fukasa wa dono kurai desu ka?)
How deep is this lake? - 彼の強さは誰にも負けない。
(Kare no tsuyosa wa dare ni mo makenai.)
His strength is unmatched by anyone. - この料理の辛さはちょうどいい。
(Kono ryouri no karasa wa choudo ii.)
The spiciness of this dish is just right. - この町の暖かさが好きです。
(Kono machi no atatakasa ga suki desu.)
I love the warmth of this town. - この仕事の大変さを理解しています。
(Kono shigoto no taihensa o rikai shiteimasu.)
I understand the difficulty of this job. - 彼女の美しさは言葉では表せない。
(Kanojo no utsukushisa wa kotoba de wa arawasenai.)
Her beauty cannot be expressed in words. - この本の面白さに夢中になった。
(Kono hon no omoshirosa ni muchuu ni natta.)
I became engrossed in the interestingness of this book. - この問題の複雑さに悩んでいます。
(Kono mondai no fukuzatsusa ni nayandeimasu.)
I’m struggling with the complexity of this problem. - この海の青さは忘れられない。
(Kono umi no aosa wa wasurerarenai.)
I can’t forget the blueness of this sea. - このケーキの甘さは控えめです。
(Kono keeki no amasa wa hikaeme desu.)
The sweetness of this cake is mild.
Things to Keep in Mind
- 〜さ vs. 〜み: While both 〜さ and 〜み can nominalize adjectives, 〜さ is more commonly used for measurable or objective qualities, whereas 〜み often conveys a more subjective or emotional nuance.
- Avoid Overuse: 〜さ is versatile, but overusing it can make your speech or writing sound repetitive.
- Context Matters: Always consider the context when using 〜さ, as it may not always be the most natural choice.
Fill in the Blanks
Test your understanding of 〜さ with these fill-in-the-blank questions:
- この川の______はどれくらいですか。（深い)
- 彼の______に感動しました。 (優しい)
- この問題の______は高いです。 (難しい)
- この部屋の______は十分です。 (広い)
- 彼女の______は誰にも負けない。 (強い)
- この料理の______はちょうどいい。 (辛い)
- この町の______が好きです。 (暖かい)
- この仕事の______を理解しています。 (大変)
- この海の______は忘れられない。 (青い)
- このケーキの______は控えめです。 (甘い)
Answers:
- 深さ
- 優しさ
- 難しさ
- 広さ
- 強さ
- 辛さ
- 暖かさ
- 大変さ
- 青さ
- 甘さ
Conclusion
Mastering the 〜さ nominalizer is a key step in becoming fluent in Japanese. It allows you to express abstract qualities and measurable attributes with ease, making your speech and writing more nuanced and precise. By practicing the examples and understanding the formation rules, you’ll soon find yourself using 〜さ naturally in everyday conversations. Keep practicing, and don’t forget to pay attention to context and nuance!
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
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たくさん vs おおぜい: the Differences in Japanese | My Language Classes
たくさん vs おおぜい
When learning Japanese, many students come across the words たくさん (takusan) and おおぜい (oozei), both of which mean “a lot” or “many.” However, they are not interchangeable in every situation. Understanding their nuances will help you use them naturally in conversations and writing.
1. Basic Meaning and Key Difference
- たくさん (takusan): Means “a lot,” “many,” or “plenty” and can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.
- おおぜい (oozei): Specifically refers to “a large number of people” and is used only for people.
2. Usage of たくさん (takusan)
A. With Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- たくさん can be used with both things that can be counted (books, apples, pens) and things that cannot be counted (water, happiness, love).
Examples:
- 机の上に本がたくさんあります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga takusan arimasu.
→ There are many books on the desk. - 今日は仕事がたくさんあります。
Kyou wa shigoto ga takusan arimasu.
→ I have a lot of work today. - 私はお金をたくさん持っています。
Watashi wa okane o takusan motteimasu.
→ I have a lot of money.
B. Placement of たくさん in a Sentence
- Before the noun (less common in daily speech):
- たくさんの友達がいます。(Takusan no tomodachi ga imasu.)
→ I have many friends.
- たくさんの友達がいます。(Takusan no tomodachi ga imasu.)
- After the noun (more natural):
- 友達がたくさんいます。(Tomodachi ga takusan imasu.)
→ I have many friends.
- 友達がたくさんいます。(Tomodachi ga takusan imasu.)
- With verbs (indicating an action done in large amounts):
- ご飯をたくさん食べました。(Gohan o takusan tabemashita.)
→ I ate a lot of food.
- ご飯をたくさん食べました。(Gohan o takusan tabemashita.)
3. Usage of おおぜい (oozei)
A. Used Only for a Large Number of People
- おおぜい is exclusively used when talking about a crowd, a large number of people, or a gathering.
Examples:
- コンサートにはおおぜいの人が来ました。
Konsaato ni wa oozei no hito ga kimashita.
→ A large number of people came to the concert. - その町には観光客がおおぜいいました。
Sono machi ni wa kankoukyaku ga oozei imashita.
→ There were many tourists in that town. - おおぜいの学生が試験を受けました。
Oozei no gakusei ga shiken o ukemashita.
→ A lot of students took the exam.
B. Placement of おおぜい in a Sentence
- Before the noun:
- おおぜいの人が集まりました。(Oozei no hito ga atsumarimashita.)
→ Many people gathered.
- おおぜいの人が集まりました。(Oozei no hito ga atsumarimashita.)
- After the noun (less common but acceptable):
- 人がおおぜい集まりました。(Hito ga oozei atsumarimashita.)
→ A lot of people gathered.
- 人がおおぜい集まりました。(Hito ga oozei atsumarimashita.)
4. Situations Where たくさん and おおぜい Are Used
Situation Use たくさん Use おおぜい Talking about a large number of objects (books, apples, cars, etc.) ✅ Yes ❌ No Talking about a large quantity of uncountable things (water, love, money, etc.) ✅ Yes ❌ No Talking about a large number of people ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Talking about a crowd or a gathering of people ❌ No ✅ Yes Used with verbs like “eat” or “buy” (大量に食べる, 大量に買う) ✅ Yes ❌ No Used before a noun as an adjective ✅ Yes (たくさんの) ✅ Yes (おおぜいの) Used after a noun naturally ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (but limited to people) 5. Summary of Key Differences
Word Meaning Used for Example Sentence たくさん (takusan) A lot, many, plenty Both people and things 友達がたくさんいます。 (I have many friends.) おおぜい (oozei) A large number of people, crowd Only people コンサートにおおぜいの人が来ました。 (A large number of people came to the concert.) 6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ おおぜいの本があります。 (Oozei no hon ga arimasu.) → Incorrect, because おおぜい is only for people.
- ✅ たくさんの本があります。 (Takusan no hon ga arimasu.) → Correct, because たくさん can be used for books.
- ❌ たくさんの人がいた。 (Takusan no hito ga ita.) → Grammatically correct, but おおぜいの人がいた sounds more natural when referring to a crowd.
7. Conclusion
Both たくさん and おおぜい mean “many,” but their usage differs depending on what you are referring to. たくさん is more versatile as it can be used with both things and people, while おおぜい is exclusively used for a large number of people. By keeping these differences in mind, you can use these words accurately and naturally in your Japanese conversations!
By mastering these distinctions, you can enhance your fluency and express yourself more precisely in Japanese. Keep practicing, and soon using たくさん and おおぜい correctly will become second nature! Happy learning! 😊
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
-
Understanding 〜らしい in Japanese | My Language Classes
Understanding 〜らしい in Japanese
When learning Japanese, one of the essential expressions to understand is 〜らしい. This suffix plays a vital role in expressing assumptions, hearsay, characteristics, and appropriateness. In this blog post, we will explore all possible usages of 〜らしい, providing clear explanations and examples.
1. Expressing Hearsay or Second-hand Information
One of the most common uses of 〜らしい is to indicate information that the speaker has heard from someone else but has not personally verified.
Structure:
Verb (Plain Form) + らしい
い-adjective (Plain Form) + らしい
な-adjective + らしい
Noun + らしいExamples:
- そのレストランは美味しいらしいよ。
(I heard that restaurant is delicious.) - たろうは今日休むらしい。
(I heard that Tarou is taking the day off today.) - この映画はめちゃくちゃ面白いらしい。
(I heard that this movie is really interesting.)
Usage Note:
Compared to そうだ, which is also used for hearsay, らしい implies that the information is based on indirect sources rather than direct observation.
2. Expressing Assumptions or Inferences
Another way to use 〜らしい is when making an assumption based on evidence.
Examples:
- たくさんの人が黒い服を着ている。 お蔵式があったらしい。
(Many people are wearing black clothes. It looks like there was a funeral.) - あの子はプロ野球選手の子どもらしい。
(That child seems to be the son of a professional baseball player.)
Usage Note:
This is different from ようだ, which is used for assumptions based on visual evidence, whereas らしい is based on reasoning or known facts.
3. Expressing Typical Characteristics
〜らしい can also be used to describe something that has the typical characteristics of a person, thing, or behavior.
Examples:
- このラーメンは日本らしい味だね。
(This ramen has a very “Japanese” flavor.) - かれは仕事に小さいことまで注意を払う。真面目らしい人だ。
(He pays attention to small details in his work. He is a serious person.) - 她はいつも元気で、すごく子どもらしい。
(She is always energetic, very much like a child.)
Usage Note:
This usage expresses the “essence” of something or someone. It is similar to みたい but is more about inherent qualities rather than just resemblance.
4. Expressing Suitability or Appropriateness
In some cases, 〜らしい can be used to indicate something that fits a certain expectation or role.
Examples:
- 日本らしいけしきゃんの誕生日プレゼントを買いたい。
(I want to buy a birthday present that is “Japanese-like”.) - 少年らしい仕事を求めている。
(Looking for work suitable for young people.)
Usage Note:
This is closely related to the “typical characteristics” meaning but emphasizes suitability rather than mere resemblance.
Situations Where 〜らしい is Used
Below is a list of common situations where 〜らしい is applicable:
- Hearsay – When conveying information heard from others.
- Inference – When making an assumption based on indirect evidence.
- Typical Characteristics – When describing something as having the essence of a person, thing, or behavior.
- Suitability – When expressing something as being appropriate for a certain role or image.
- Rumors – When talking about unverified rumors or gossip.
Final Thoughts
Mastering 〜らしい is essential for expressing assumptions, typicality, and hearsay in Japanese. While it might seem tricky at first, practicing with real-life examples and distinguishing it from similar expressions like そうだ and ようだ will help you use it naturally.
By understanding these nuances, you’ll be able to sound more fluent and natural in your Japanese conversations. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to use 〜らしい in different situations!
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
- そのレストランは美味しいらしいよ。
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Expressing Likes and Dislikes すき and きらい in Japanese | My Language Classes
Likes and Dislikes in Japanese
こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!)
Learning how to express preferences is one of the most useful and fun parts of mastering Japanese. Today, let’s dive into two essential words: 好き (すき) for “like” and 嫌い (きらい) for “dislike.” Not only will we explore their meanings, but also how to use them naturally in sentences.
1. 好き (すき) – To Like
How to Use 好き
The word 好き means “like” or “fond of” and is commonly used to express your preferences. The structure is simple:
Noun + が好き
This translates to “I like [noun].”Examples:
- 日本語が好きです。
Nihongo ga suki desu.
I like Japanese.- Here, 日本語 (Nihongo) means “Japanese,” and が marks it as the topic you like. Adding です makes it polite.
- 犬が好き。
Inu ga suki.
I like dogs.- This informal version is common among friends or in casual settings.
Expressing Love or Passionate Likes
To emphasize your love or deep passion for something, you can use 大好き (だいすき/daisuki):
- チョコレートが大好きです！
Chokorēto ga daisuki desu!
I love chocolate!
2. 嫌い (きらい) – To Dislike
How to Use 嫌い
On the flip side, 嫌い means “dislike” or “hate.” The structure is the same as 好き:
Noun + が嫌い
This means “I dislike [noun].”Examples:
- ピザが嫌いです。
Piza ga kirai desu.
I dislike pizza.- ピザ (Piza) means “pizza.” While it’s a popular dish, some people might find it too greasy!
- 虫が嫌い。
Mushi ga kirai.
I hate insects.- 虫 (Mushi) refers to “insects.” Use this informal structure with friends.
Expressing Strong Dislike
If you strongly dislike something, you can say 大嫌い (だいきらい/daikirai):
- 雨が大嫌いです！
Ame ga daikirai desu!
I hate rain!
3. Cultural Notes
- “Softer Tone for Dislikes”: In Japanese culture, direct expressions of dislike like 嫌い might come off as too strong in some situations. To soften it, you can use phrases like:
- あまり好きじゃない (Amari suki janai) – “I don’t really like [it].”
- ちょっと苦手です (Chotto nigate desu) – “I’m a bit bad with [it].”
- Overuse of 好き: While 好き is positive, saying it too often might sound insincere. Balance your expressions to match the context.
4. Grammar and Nuance Tips
- No Verb Needed:
Both 好き and 嫌い function as な-adjectives, not verbs. This means they don’t need any conjugation or additional verbs to form basic sentences.Example:- Correct: 猫が好きです。 (Neko ga suki desu. – “I like cats.”)
- Incorrect: 猫が好きをです。 (Neko ga suki wo desu. – This is ungrammatical.)
- が (Ga) vs. は (Wa):
Although が is standard for these structures, は can be used for contrast or emphasis:- 犬は好きですが、猫は嫌いです。
Inu wa suki desu ga, neko wa kirai desu.
I like dogs, but I dislike cats.
- 犬は好きですが、猫は嫌いです。
5. Practice Time!
Let’s put what you’ve learned into action. Try completing these sentences:
- 私は ______ が好きです。
(Watashi wa ______ ga suki desu.)- Translate: “I like ______.”
- 友達は ______ が嫌いです。
(Tomodachi wa ______ ga kirai desu.)- Translate: “My friend dislikes ______.”
- ______ は大好きです！
(______ wa daisuki desu!)- Translate: “I love ______!”
6. Wrap-Up
Now you can confidently express what you like and dislike in Japanese! Start practicing by talking about your favorite foods, hobbies, and activities. Try to notice how native speakers use 好き and 嫌い in conversations—it will deepen your understanding.
If you have questions or want to share your sentences, feel free to leave a comment below!
それでは、またね！(Soredewa, matane!)If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
- 日本語が好きです。
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Mastering Adjectives in Japanese | My Language Classes
Mastering Japanese Adjectives: A Comprehensive Guide
When learning Japanese, adjectives play a key role in describing the world around us. They not only add depth to your vocabulary but also enable you to express emotions, describe objects, and narrate experiences with precision. In this blog post, we will dive into i-adjectives and na-adjectives, exploring their various forms to help you master their usage.
Understanding Japanese Adjectives
Japanese adjectives fall into two main categories:
- I-adjectives (い形容詞): These adjectives end with the syllable い, such as 高い (takai, “high/expensive”).
- Na-adjectives (な形容詞): These adjectives are followed by な when modifying a noun, such as 静か (shizuka, “quiet”).
Both types of adjectives can be conjugated to express tense and polarity (affirmative/negative). Let’s break this down with examples!
I-Adjectives: 高い (takai)
I-adjectives are flexible and straightforward to conjugate. Here’s how to handle them:
1. Present Affirmative: 高い (takai)
This is the dictionary form, used to describe something currently high or expensive.
Example: この山は高いです。 (Kono yama wa takai desu. “This mountain is high.”)2. Present Negative: 高くない (takakunai)
Replace the final い with くない to express the negative form.
Example: この家は高くないです。 (Kono ie wa takakunai desu. “This house is not expensive.”)3. Past Affirmative: 高かった (takakatta)
Replace い with かった to describe something that was high or expensive.
Example: 昨日登った山は高かったです。 (Kinō nobotta yama wa takakatta desu. “The mountain we climbed yesterday was high.”)4. Past Negative: 高くなかった (takakunakatta)
Replace い with くなかった to express the past negative.
Example: このカバンは高くなかったです。 (Kono kaban wa takakunakatta desu. “This bag was not expensive.”)Quick Summary Table for I-Adjectives:
Tense Form Example Present Affirmative 高い 高い車 (takai kuruma) – “expensive car” Present Negative 高くない 高くない車 (takakunai kuruma) – “not expensive car” Past Affirmative 高かった 高かった車 (takakatta kuruma) – “was an expensive car” Past Negative 高くなかった 高くなかった車 (takakunakatta kuruma) – “was not an expensive car”
Na-Adjectives: 静か (shizuka)
Na-adjectives require a little different handling, but they are equally systematic. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Present Affirmative: 静か (shizuka)
The base form is used with です to indicate politeness.
Example: この公園は静かです。 (Kono kōen wa shizuka desu. “This park is quiet.”)2. Present Negative: 静かじゃない (shizuka janai)
Add じゃない to the base form to negate it.
Example: この部屋は静かじゃないです。 (Kono heya wa shizuka janai desu. “This room is not quiet.”)3. Past Affirmative: 静かだった (shizuka datta)
Add だった to express that something was quiet.
Example: 昨夜の図書館は静かだったです。 (Sakuya no toshokan wa shizuka datta desu. “The library last night was quiet.”)4. Past Negative: 静かじゃなかった (shizuka janakatta)
Combine じゃなかった to indicate that something was not quiet.
Example: 昨日のカフェは静かじゃなかったです。 (Kinō no kafe wa shizuka janakatta desu. “The café yesterday was not quiet.”)Quick Summary Table for Na-Adjectives:
Tense Form Example Present Affirmative 静か 静かな部屋 (shizuka na heya) – “quiet room” Present Negative 静かじゃない 静かじゃない部屋 (shizuka janai heya) – “not a quiet room” Past Affirmative 静かだった 静かだった部屋 (shizuka datta heya) – “was a quiet room” Past Negative 静かじゃなかった 静かじゃなかった部屋 (shizuka janakatta heya) – “was not a quiet room”
Tips for Mastery
- Practice daily: Use adjectives to describe your environment. For instance, “The sky is blue” → 空が青いです (Sora ga aoi desu).
- Listen to native speakers: Pay attention to how adjectives are used in Japanese media like dramas, anime, or news.
- Create your own sentences: Experiment with mixing different adjectives to make complex sentences.
- Review conjugation patterns: Regularly revisit charts and examples to solidify your understanding.
Conclusion
Mastering Japanese adjectives—both i-adjectives and na-adjectives—is an essential step toward fluency. With consistent practice and a clear understanding of the conjugation rules, you’ll find it easier to describe the world around you. Start using these forms today, and watch your Japanese skills soar!
Happy learning! 頑張ってください！ (Ganbatte kudasai!)
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊