N4 Vocabulary: Adjectives — 24 words with memory tricks
N4 adjectives are rich in feelings (happy/sad/lonely/scared) and clear na-adjectives (簡単 simple, 複雑 complex, 特別 special, 危険 dangerous). This lesson gathers 24 words, grouped by feelings, qualities and na-adjectives.
01
うれしい
うれしい
ureshii
to be happy; to be glad
💡 ureshii = happy, glad (a momentary feeling). Opposite of 悲しい.
02
悲しい
かなしい
kanashii
sad, sorrowful
💡 悲 (sorrow). kanashii = sad.
03
寂しい
さびしい
sabishii
lonely, lonesome
💡 寂 (lonely/quiet). sabishii = lonely.
04
怖い
こわい
kowai
scary, frightening
💡 kowai = scary / afraid (the 忄 heart radical = fear inside).
05
恥ずかしい
はずかしい
hazukashii
ashamed, embarrassed
💡 恥 (shame). hazukashii = embarrassed, shy.
06
眠い
ねむい
nemui
sleepy, drowsy
💡 眠 (sleep, with the 目 eye radical). nemui = sleepy.
07
正しい
ただしい
tadashii
correct
💡 正 (correct). tadashii = correct, right.
08
美しい
うつくしい
utsukushii
beautiful, lovely
💡 美 (beauty). utsukushii = beautiful (more formal than きれい).
09
素晴らしい
すばらしい
subarashii
wonderful; terrific
💡 subarashii = wonderful, splendid.
10
深い
ふかい
fukai
deep, profound
💡 深 (deep). fukai. Opposite of 浅い.
11
浅い
あさい
asai
shallow, superficial
💡 浅 (shallow). asai. Pairs with 深い.
12
柔らかい
やわらかい
yawarakai
soft (in reference to texture), tender
💡 柔 (soft/flexible). yawarakai = soft.
13
優しい
やさしい
yasashii
kind (person), gentle (person), easy (problem)
💡 優 (gentle). yasashii = kind, gentle (a homophone of 易しい = easy!).
14
厳しい
きびしい
kibishii
hard; rigorous; strict
💡 厳 (strict). kibishii = strict, harsh.
15
大事
だいじ
daiji
important, valuable, serious matter
💡 大 (big) + 事 (matter) → important, precious. daiji — na-adjective.
16
必要
ひつよう
hitsuyō
necessary
💡 必 (must) + 要 (need) → necessary. hitsuyō — na-adjective.
17
簡単
かんたん
kantan
simple
💡 kantan = simple, easy — na-adjective. Opposite of 複雑.
18
複雑
ふくざつ
fukuzatsu
complexity, complication
💡 fukuzatsu = complicated — na-adjective. Pairs with 簡単.
19
特別
とくべつ
tokubetsu
special
💡 特 (special) + 別 (distinction) → special. tokubetsu — na-adjective.
20
親切
しんせつ
shinsetsu
kindness
💡 親 (intimate) + 切 → kind. shinsetsu — na-adjective.
21
真面目
まじめ
majime
diligent, serious
💡 majime = serious, diligent — na-adjective.
22
丁寧
ていねい
teinei
polite, courteous, careful
💡 teinei = polite, careful, courteous — na-adjective.
23
危険
きけん
kiken
danger, risk, hazard
💡 危 (danger) + 険 → dangerous. kiken — na-adjective.
24
残念
ざんねん
zannen
regret; regrettable
💡 zannen = a pity, unfortunate — na-adjective.
Memory tricks
- Feeling adjectives (-i): うれしい (happy), 悲しい (sad), 寂しい (lonely), 怖い (scary), 恥ずかしい (embarrassed), 眠い (sleepy).
- Clear na-adjectives: 簡単 (simple), 複雑 (complex), 特別 (special), 危険 (dangerous), 必要 (necessary).
- Opposite pairs: 深い/浅い (deep/shallow), 簡単/複雑 (simple/complex).
- -i vs -na for conjugation: feelings + 正しい/美しい… are -i; 大事/簡単/親切… are -na. Watch out: 優しい (kind) and 易しい (easy) are both "yasashii"!
- Spaced repetition in Memoro.
→ See all N4 Adjectives vocabulary
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