Adjectives

1. 大きい

   oo-kii

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. 小さい

   chii-sai

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. 重い

   o-mo-i

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. 軽い

   ka-ru-i

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. Brightness is a different word: 明るい (akarui)

5. 高い

   ta-ka-i

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

   Grammar Note

   Also means "tall"; use it where the context is clearly about price

6. 安い

   ya-su-i

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

7. 熱い

   a-tsu-i

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch. Weather-hot 暑い is read the same (atsui) but written with a different kanji

8. 冷たい

   tsu-me-ta-i

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch. For cold weather use 寒い (samui)

9. 新しい

   a-ta-ra-shii

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. 古い

    fu-ru-i

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    Only for objects. Never say it about a person — use 年配の (nenpai no)

11. 若い

    wa-ka-i

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. 年配の

    nen-pai-no

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    A polite way to say a person is elderly; 年寄り can sound too blunt

13. きれい

    ki-re-i

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises both cleanliness and beauty

14. 汚い

    ki-ta-na-i

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. 良い

    yo-i

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. 悪い

    wa-ru-i

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. 近い

    chi-ka-i

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. 遠い

    too-i

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. 早い

    ha-ya-i

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is 速い — same reading (hayai), different kanji

20. 遅い

    o-so-i

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; the same word also covers slow in speed, so context decides

21. 多い

    oo-i

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. 少ない

    su-ku-na-i

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. 暑い

    a-tsu-i

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Hot weather. For hot objects the same reading is written 熱い

24. 寒い

    sa-mu-i

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Cold weather. For cold objects use 冷たい (tsumetai)

25. かわいい

    ka-wa-i-i

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. かっこいい

    kak-ko-i-i

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

27. おいしい

    o-i-shi-i

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. すごい

    su-go-i

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. 楽しい

    ta-no-shi-i

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. もっと

    mot-to

    More

    Usage

    Asks for more of something; understood as "more, please"

31. 少しだけ

    su-ko-shi-da-ke

    Just a little

    Usage

    Asks for a small amount, e.g. a small portion or mild spiciness

32. 半分

    han-bun

    Half

    Usage

    For asking for half a portion, or splitting something in two

33. 全部

    zen-bu

    All of it

    Usage

    Means the whole lot — "all of it" or "all together"

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