N5 Adjectives

dangerous, risky, hazardous

あぶない / abunai: hear "ah" + "boo" + "knot" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a playful "boo!", and a tight knot turning into a clear scene for "dangerous"; that little scene ties abunai to "dangerous".

red, crimson, scarlet

あかい / akai: hear "ah" + "car" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a small car, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "red"; that little scene ties akai to "red".

bright, light, well-lit

明 holds the sun (日) and the moon (月) — both sources of brightness.

sweet, sweet-tasting, sugary

あまい / amai: hear "ah" + "ma" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a motherly "ma!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "sweet"; that little scene ties amai to "sweet".

blue, azure, green

あおい / aoi: hear "ah" + "oh" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", someone realizing "oh!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "blue"; that little scene ties aoi to "blue".

new, novel, fresh

あたらしい / atarashii: hear "ah" + "ta-da" + "rah" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, and a cheering "rah!" turning into a clear scene for "new"; that little scene ties atarashii to "new".

warm, mild, (pleasantly) hot

あたたかい / atatakai: hear "ah" + "ta-da" + "ta-da" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, and a dramatic "ta-da!" pose turning into a clear scene for "warm"; that little scene ties atatakai to "warm".

hot to the touch, hot (to the touch), passionate (feelings, etc.)

あつい / atsui: hear "ah" + "tsk" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a tiny "tsk!" spark, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "hot to the touch"; that little scene ties atsui to "hot to the touch".

thick, deep, heavy

あつい / atsui: hear "ah" + "tsk" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a tiny "tsk!" spark, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "thick"; that little scene ties atsui to "thick".

hot weather, hot, warm

あつい / atsui: hear "ah" + "tsk" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone gasping "ah!", a tiny "tsk!" spark, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "hot weather"; that little scene ties atsui to "hot weather".

convenient, handy, useful

べんり / benri: hear "bell" + "hum" + "reel" in the word. Picture a ringing bell, a humming "n" sound, and a film reel turning into a clear scene for "convenient"; that little scene ties benri to "convenient".

small, little, tiny

ちいさい / chiisai: hear "cheese" + "eek" + "saw" in the word. Picture a wedge of cheese, someone squeaking "eek!", and a hand saw turning into a clear scene for "small"; that little scene ties chiisai to "small".

near, close, short (distance)

ちかい / chikai: hear "cheese" + "car" + "eek" in the word. Picture a wedge of cheese, a small car, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "near"; that little scene ties chikai to "near".

okay, safe, secure

だいじょうぶ / daijoubu: hear "dart" + "eek" + "Joe" in the word. Picture a small dart, someone squeaking "eek!", and someone named Joe turning into a clear scene for "okay"; that little scene ties daijoubu to "okay".

like very much, liking very much, loving (something or someone)

だいすき / daisuki: hear "dart" + "eek" + "Sue" in the word. Picture a small dart, someone squeaking "eek!", and someone named Sue turning into a clear scene for "like very much"; that little scene ties daisuki to "like very much".

old, aged, ancient

ふるい / furui: connect the sound to "fur". Picture furry clouds dropping rain in a scene for "old" so the sound points straight back to the meaning.

thick, fat, fat, thick

ふとい / futoi: hear "foo" + "toe" + "eek" in the word. Picture a puff of air, a tapping toe, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "thick, fat"; that little scene ties futoi to "thick, fat".

healthy, energetic, lively, full of spirit

げんき / genki: hear "gate" + "hum" + "key" in the word. Picture a garden gate, a humming "n" sound, and a bright key turning into a clear scene for "healthy, energetic"; that little scene ties genki to "healthy, energetic".

fast, quick, rapid

はやい / hayai: hear "ha" + "yard" + "eek" in the word. Picture a laughing "ha!", a grassy yard, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "fast"; that little scene ties hayai to "fast".

early, fast, quick

はやい / hayai: hear "ha" + "yard" + "eek" in the word. Picture a laughing "ha!", a grassy yard, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "early"; that little scene ties hayai to "early".

unskillful, humble position, inferior

へた / heta: hear "hey" + "ta-da" in the word. Picture someone waving "hey!" beside a dramatic "ta-da!" pose turning into a clear scene for "unskillful"; that little scene ties heta to "unskillful".

low, low (rank, degree, value, content, quality, etc.), low (position)

ひくい / hikui: connect the sound to "hook". Picture a hook pulling or playing the idea in a scene for "low" so the sound points straight back to the meaning.

free, not busy, spare time, free time

ひま / hima: hear "he" + "ma" in the word. Picture someone pointing and saying "he" beside a motherly "ma!" turning into a clear scene for "free, not busy"; that little scene ties hima to "free, not busy".

wide, spacious, spacious, vast

ひろい / hiroi: hear "he" + "row" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone pointing and saying "he", a neat row, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "wide, spacious"; that little scene ties hiroi to "wide, spacious".

true, truth, reality

ほんとう / hontou: hear "hoe" + "hum" + "toe" in the word. Picture a garden hoe, a humming "n" sound, and a tapping toe turning into a clear scene for "true"; that little scene ties hontou to "true".

wanted, wanting (to have), desiring

ほしい / hoshii: hear "hoe" + "she" + "eek" in the word. Picture a garden hoe, someone saying "she", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "wanted"; that little scene ties hoshii to "wanted".

thin, slender, thin, slender

ほそい / hosoi: hear "hoe" + "sew" + "eek" in the word. Picture a garden hoe, a sewing needle, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "thin, slender"; that little scene ties hosoi to "thin, slender".

various, a variety of, all sorts of

いろいろ / iroiro: hear "eek" + "row" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone squeaking "eek!", a neat row, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "various"; that little scene ties iroiro to "various".

busy, occupied, hectic

いそがしい / isogashii: hear "eek" + "sew" + "gasp" in the word. Picture someone squeaking "eek!", a sewing needle, and a dramatic gasp turning into a clear scene for "busy"; that little scene ties isogashii to "busy".

painful, sore, cringy

いたい / itai: hear "eek" + "ta-da" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone squeaking "eek!", a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "painful"; that little scene ties itai to "painful".

unpleasant, disliking, not wanting

いや / iya: hear "eek" + "yard" in the word. Picture someone squeaking "eek!" beside a grassy yard turning into a clear scene for "unpleasant"; that little scene ties iya to "unpleasant".

strong, durable, healthy, robust

じょうぶ / joubu: hear "Joe" + "ooh" + "boo" in the word. Picture someone named Joe, someone saying "ooh", and a playful "boo!" turning into a clear scene for "strong, durable"; that little scene ties joubu to "strong, durable".

skilled, skillful, proficient

Think of having the upper hand at something — 上手 is the skilled hand.

spicy, hot, salty

からい / karai: hear "car" + "rah" + "eek" in the word. Picture a small car, a cheering "rah!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "spicy"; that little scene ties karai to "spicy".

light, light (i.e. not heavy), feeling light (i.e. offering little resistance, moving easily)

かるい / karui: hear "car" + "room" + "eek" in the word. Picture a small car, a tiny room, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "light"; that little scene ties karui to "light".

cute, adorable, charming

かわいい / kawaii: hear "car" + "water" + "eek" in the word. Picture a small car, a splash of water, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "cute"; that little scene ties kawaii to "cute".

splendid, enough, splendid, nice

けっこう / kekkou: hear "kettle" + "click" + "coat" in the word. Picture a whistling kettle, a quick click, and a big coat turning into a clear scene for "splendid, enough"; that little scene ties kekkou to "splendid, enough".

yellow, high-pitched (voice), shrill

きいろい / kiiroi: hear "key" + "eek" + "row" in the word. Picture a bright key, someone squeaking "eek!", and a neat row turning into a clear scene for "yellow"; that little scene ties kiiroi to "yellow".

disliked, hated, disagreeable

きらい / kirai: hear "key" + "rah" + "eek" in the word. Picture a bright key, a cheering "rah!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "disliked"; that little scene ties kirai to "disliked".

pretty, clean, pretty, lovely

きれい / kirei: hear "key" + "ray" + "eek" in the word. Picture a bright key, a ray of light, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "pretty, clean"; that little scene ties kirei to "pretty, clean".

dirty, filthy, foul

きたない / kitanai: hear "key" + "ta-da" + "knot" in the word. Picture a bright key, a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, and a tight knot turning into a clear scene for "dirty"; that little scene ties kitanai to "dirty".

dark, gloomy, murky

暗 hides the sun (日) behind a sound (音) — light is muffled, the room is dark.

black, dark, blackish

くろい / kuroi: hear "coo" + "row" + "eek" in the word. Picture a soft "coo" sound, a neat row, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "black"; that little scene ties kuroi to "black".

round, circular, spherical

まるい / marui: hear "ma" + "room" + "eek" in the word. Picture a motherly "ma!", a tiny room, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "round"; that little scene ties marui to "round".

straight, straight (ahead), direct

まっすぐ / massugu: hear "ma" + "hiss" + "Sue" in the word. Picture a motherly "ma!", a quick hiss, and someone named Sue turning into a clear scene for "straight"; that little scene ties massugu to "straight".

bad-tasting, bad(-tasting), unpalatable

まずい / mazui: hear "ma" + "zoo" + "eek" in the word. Picture a motherly "ma!", a zoo gate, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "bad-tasting"; that little scene ties mazui to "bad-tasting".

short, brief

みじかい / mijikai: hear "me" + "gee" + "car" in the word. Picture someone pointing to themselves, a surprised "gee!", and a small car turning into a clear scene for "short"; that little scene ties mijikai to "short".

difficult, hard, troublesome

むずかしい / muzukashii: hear "moo" + "zoo" + "car" in the word. Picture a deep "moo" sound, a zoo gate, and a small car turning into a clear scene for "difficult"; that little scene ties muzukashii to "difficult".

long, long (distance, length), long (time)

ながい / nagai: hear "knot" + "gasp" + "eek" in the word. Picture a tight knot, a dramatic gasp, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "long"; that little scene ties nagai to "long".

lively, bustling, busy

にぎやか / nigiyaka: hear "knee" + "guitar" + "yard" in the word. Picture a bent knee, a tiny guitar, and a grassy yard turning into a clear scene for "lively"; that little scene ties nigiyaka to "lively".

lukewarm, tepid, lenient

ぬるい / nurui: hear "new" + "room" + "eek" in the word. Picture a shiny new tag, a tiny room, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "lukewarm"; that little scene ties nurui to "lukewarm".

delicious, good(-tasting), nice

おいしい / oishii: hear "oh" + "eek" + "she" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", someone squeaking "eek!", and someone saying "she" turning into a clear scene for "delicious"; that little scene ties oishii to "delicious".

heavy, weighty, heavy (feeling)

おもい / omoi: hear "oh" + "moat" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", a little moat, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "heavy"; that little scene ties omoi to "heavy".

interesting, fascinating, intriguing

おもしろい / omoshiroi: hear "oh" + "moat" + "she" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", a little moat, and someone saying "she" turning into a clear scene for "interesting"; that little scene ties omoshiroi to "interesting".

many, numerous, a lot

おおい / ooi: hear "oh" + "oh" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", someone realizing "oh!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "many"; that little scene ties ooi to "many".

big, large, great

おおきい / ookii: hear "oh" + "oh" + "key" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", someone realizing "oh!", and a bright key turning into a clear scene for "big"; that little scene ties ookii to "big".

slow, late, slow, late

おそい / osoi: hear "oh" + "sew" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", a sewing needle, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "slow, late"; that little scene ties osoi to "slow, late".

splendid, fine, handsome

りっぱ / rippa: hear "reel" + "pop" + "party" in the word. Picture a film reel, a quick pop, and a tiny party hat turning into a clear scene for "splendid"; that little scene ties rippa to "splendid".

cold weather, cold (e.g. weather), uninteresting (esp. joke)

さむい / samui: hear "saw" + "moo" + "eek" in the word. Picture a hand saw, a deep "moo" sound, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "cold weather"; that little scene ties samui to "cold weather".

narrow, confined, small

せまい / semai: hear "say" + "ma" + "eek" in the word. Picture a speech bubble saying "say", a motherly "ma!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "narrow"; that little scene ties semai to "narrow".

white, blank (e.g. paper), uncolored

しろい / shiroi: hear "she" + "row" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone saying "she", a neat row, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "white"; that little scene ties shiroi to "white".

quiet, silent, slow

静か sounds like stillness settling into a room.

liked, liking, being fond of

すき / suki: hear "Sue" + "key" in the word. Picture someone named Sue beside a bright key turning into a clear scene for "liked"; that little scene ties suki to "liked".

few, little, small (amount)

すくない / sukunai: hear "Sue" + "coo" + "knot" in the word. Picture someone named Sue, a soft "coo" sound, and a tight knot turning into a clear scene for "few"; that little scene ties sukunai to "few".

cool, refreshing, cool, refreshing

すずしい / suzushii: hear "Sue" + "zoo" + "she" in the word. Picture someone named Sue, a zoo gate, and someone saying "she" turning into a clear scene for "cool, refreshing"; that little scene ties suzushii to "cool, refreshing".

probable, probably, likely

たぶん / tabun: hear "ta-da" + "boo" + "hum" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, a playful "boo!", and a humming "n" sound turning into a clear scene for "probable"; that little scene ties tabun to "probable".

serious, difficult, very, greatly

たいへん / taihen: hear "ta-da" + "eek" + "hey" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, someone squeaking "eek!", and someone waving "hey!" turning into a clear scene for "serious, difficult"; that little scene ties taihen to "serious, difficult".

important, significant, serious

たいせつ / taisetsu: hear "ta-da" + "eek" + "say" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, someone squeaking "eek!", and a speech bubble saying "say" turning into a clear scene for "important"; that little scene ties taisetsu to "important".

high, expensive, high, tall

たかい / takai: hear "ta-da" + "car" + "eek" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, a small car, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "high, expensive"; that little scene ties takai to "high, expensive".

many, a lot, lots

たくさん / takusan: hear "ta-da" + "coo" + "saw" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, a soft "coo" sound, and a hand saw turning into a clear scene for "many"; that little scene ties takusan to "many".

fun, enjoyable, pleasant

たのしい / tanoshii: hear "ta-da" + "no" + "she" in the word. Picture a dramatic "ta-da!" pose, a big no gesture, and someone saying "she" turning into a clear scene for "fun"; that little scene ties tanoshii to "fun".

far, distant, far away

とおい / tooi: hear "toe" + "oh" + "eek" in the word. Picture a tapping toe, someone realizing "oh!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "far"; that little scene ties tooi to "far".

boring, dull, uninteresting

つまらない / tsumaranai: hear "tsk" + "ma" + "rah" in the word. Picture a tiny "tsk!" spark, a motherly "ma!", and a cheering "rah!" turning into a clear scene for "boring"; that little scene ties tsumaranai to "boring".

cold to the touch, cold (to the touch), chilly

つめたい / tsumetai: hear "tsk" + "may" + "ta-da" in the word. Picture a tiny "tsk!" spark, a calendar page for May, and a dramatic "ta-da!" pose turning into a clear scene for "cold to the touch"; that little scene ties tsumetai to "cold to the touch".

strong, potent, competent

つよい / tsuyoi: hear "tsk" + "yo" + "eek" in the word. Picture a tiny "tsk!" spark, a friendly "yo!", and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "strong"; that little scene ties tsuyoi to "strong".

noisy, annoying, noisy, loud

うるさい / urusai: connect the sound to "you rule". Picture a tiny shopkeeper declaring "you rule!" after a sale in a scene for "noisy, annoying" so the sound points straight back to the meaning.

thin, weak, thin (of an object), pale

うすい / usui: hear "ooh" + "Sue" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone saying "ooh", someone named Sue, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "thin, weak"; that little scene ties usui to "thin, weak".

young, youthful, immature

わかい / wakai: hear "water" + "car" + "eek" in the word. Picture a splash of water, a small car, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "young"; that little scene ties wakai to "young".

bad, poor, undesirable

わるい / warui: hear "water" + "room" + "eek" in the word. Picture a splash of water, a tiny room, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "bad"; that little scene ties warui to "bad".

easy, plain, simple

やさしい / yasashii: hear "yard" + "saw" + "she" in the word. Picture a grassy yard, a hand saw, and someone saying "she" turning into a clear scene for "easy"; that little scene ties yasashii to "easy".

cheap, inexpensive, calm

やすい / yasui: hear "yard" + "Sue" + "eek" in the word. Picture a grassy yard, someone named Sue, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "cheap"; that little scene ties yasui to "cheap".

good, excellent, fine

いい / ii: hear "eek" + "eek" in the word. Picture someone squeaking "eek!" beside someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "good"; that little scene ties ii to "good".

weak, frail, delicate

よわい / yowai: hear "yo" + "water" + "eek" in the word. Picture a friendly "yo!", a splash of water, and someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "weak"; that little scene ties yowai to "weak".

famous, well-known

ゆうめい / yuumei: hear "you" + "ooh" + "may" in the word. Picture someone pointing to you, someone saying "ooh", and a calendar page for May turning into a clear scene for "famous"; that little scene ties yuumei to "famous".

same, identical, same, identical

おなじ / onaji: hear "oh" + "knot" + "gee" in the word. Picture someone realizing "oh!", a tight knot, and a surprised "gee!" turning into a clear scene for "same, identical"; that little scene ties onaji to "same, identical".

yes; appears, to be the case, appearing that, seeming that

そう / sou: hear "sew" + "ooh" in the word. Picture a sewing needle beside someone saying "ooh" turning into a clear scene for "yes; appears, to be the case"; that little scene ties sou to "yes; appears, to be the case".

there isn't, doesn't have, dead

ない / nai: hear "knot" + "eek" in the word. Picture a tight knot beside someone squeaking "eek!" turning into a clear scene for "there isn't, doesn't have"; that little scene ties nai to "there isn't, doesn't have".