N5 Vocabulary: Adjectives — 24 words with memory tricks
N5 adjectives split into two groups — -i and -na — and telling them apart early keeps your sentences correct. This lesson gathers 24 common adjectives arranged in opposite pairs, each with a memory hook.
01
大きい
おおきい
ōkii
big, large
💡 大 (big). ōkii — an i-adjective.
大きい家ですね。It's a big house, isn't it?
02
小さい
ちいさい
chiisai
small, little
💡 小 (small). chiisai. Opposite of 大きい.
小さい猫がいます。There is a small cat.
03
高い
たかい
takai
tall, high; expensive
💡 高 (high). takai = tall/high; also "expensive".
この山は高いですね。This mountain is high, isn't it?
04
安い
やすい
yasui
inexpensive; cheap (things)
💡 安 (peace/cheap). yasui = cheap. Opposite of 高い (expensive).
この靴は安いです。These shoes are cheap.
05
新しい
あたらしい
atarashii
new
💡 新 (new). atarashii.
新しい靴を買いました。I bought new shoes.
06
古い
ふるい
furui
old (in reference to objects, not people), aged, ancient
💡 古 (old). furui. Opposite of 新しい.
この家はとても古いです。This house is very old.
07
暑い
あつい
atsui
hot (in reference to weather), warm
💡 暑 (hot weather). atsui. Opposite: 寒い.
夏はとても暑いです。Summer is very hot.
08
寒い
さむい
samui
cold (in reference to weather)
💡 寒 (cold weather). samui.
今日はとても寒いですね。It's very cold today, isn't it?
09
いい; よい
いい; よい
ii; yoi
good
💡 "good". いい (casual) = よい. Irregular past: よかった.
とてもいい天気ですね。It's very nice weather, isn't it?
10
悪い
わるい
warui
bad, sinful; inferior
💡 悪 (bad/evil). warui. Opposite of いい.
悪いニュースを聞きました。I heard bad news.
11
難しい
むずかしい
muzukashii
difficult
💡 難 (difficult). muzukashii.
日本語は難しいです。Japanese is difficult.
12
易しい
やさしい
yasashii
easy, plain, simple
💡 易 (easy). yasashii. Opposite of 難しい.
このテストは易しいです。This test is easy.
13
面白い
おもしろい
omoshiroi
interesting, amusing
💡 omoshiroi = interesting/funny. Literally 面 (face) + 白 (white).
この本は面白いです。This book is interesting.
14
美味しい
おいしい
oishii
delicious, tasty
💡 美 (beautiful) + 味 (taste) → delicious. oishii.
このケーキはとてもおいしいです。This cake is very delicious.
15
忙しい
いそがしい
isogashii
busy (people, days)
💡 忙 (busy): 忄(heart) + 亡 (lost) → so busy your mind is lost. isogashii.
仕事がとても忙しいです。Work is very busy.
16
好き
すき
suki
liking, fondness, love
💡 好 (like): 女 (woman) + 子 (child) → a mother's love. suki — a na-adjective.
猫が大好きです。I love cats.
17
嫌い
きらい
kirai
dislike
💡 嫌 (dislike). kirai — na-adjective. Opposite of 好き.
魚が嫌いです。I hate fish.
18
上手
じょうず
jōzu
be good at, skillful
💡 上 (upper) + 手 (hand) → skilled. jōzu — na-adjective.
歌が上手ですね。You are good at singing, aren't you?
19
下手
へた
heta
unskillful, poor
💡 下 (lower) + 手 (hand) → unskilled. heta — na-adjective. Opposite of 上手.
料理が下手です。I am bad at cooking.
20
静か
しずか
shizuka
quiet, calm
💡 静 (quiet). shizuka — na-adjective (静かな).
この図書館は静かですね。This library is quiet, isn't it?
21
綺麗
きれい
kirei
pretty, clean, tidy
💡 kirei = pretty / clean — na-adjective. Don't confuse with 嫌い kirai (dislike)!
綺麗な花ですね。It's a beautiful flower, isn't it?
22
元気
げんき
genki
health(y), energetic
💡 元 (origin) + 気 (energy) → healthy, energetic. genki — na-adjective.
元気ですか？How are you?
23
便利
べんり
benri
convenient, handy
💡 便 + 利 → convenient. benri — na-adjective.
この道具は便利ですね。This tool is convenient, isn't it?
24
大丈夫
だいじょうぶ
daijoubu
It's ok (all right); No need to worry; Everything is under control
💡 daijōbu = "it's OK / all right".
「大丈夫ですか？」「ええ、大丈夫です。」'Are you okay?' 'Yes, I'm fine.'
Memory tricks
- -i vs -na (the core grammar point): い-endings (大きい, 高い) attach directly to nouns (高い山). The rest (好き, 静か, 便利…) are -na and need な (静かな部屋).
- Learn in opposite pairs: 大きい/小さい, 高い/安い, 新しい/古い, 暑い/寒い, 難しい/易しい, 好き/嫌い, 上手/下手.
- 上手/下手 = upper/lower hand: 上手 skilled, 下手 unskilled.
- Easy to confuse: 綺麗 kirei (pretty/clean) vs 嫌い kirai (dislike) — similar sound, opposite meaning!
- Spaced repetition in Memoro helps you remember which are -i vs -na.
→ See all N5 Adjectives vocabulary
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