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Questions tagged [na-adjectives]

形容動詞. A specialized class of nouns of that can be attached to other nouns (using the special copula form な for present-positive), to describe their properties.

A specialized class of nouns of that can be attached to other nouns (using the special copula form な for present-positive), to describe their properties. In copular sentences (equivalent to the English "NOUN is ADJ") na-adjectives behave exactly like regular nouns.

Related tags

  • is separate class of word that are also used to describe properties of nouns, but behave more like verbs.
  • is sometimes used to refer to both na-adjectives and i-adjectives together. These two class are utterly unrelated in Japanese, but they both translate to English adjectives, which makes it necessary for learners to treat them together.
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Why is だ used for な adjectives?

I've always compared な adjectives to some abstract harder type of adjective, and I think I learned formally what the difference is, kind of, but I've forgotten. In any case, I know there are nouns that can act as adjectives, but what is the reason…
user3457
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Differences between 類似 and ような

Is there any difference to how and when 類似 and ような are used? For example: 英国で同じようなことです。 英国で類似のことです。 Thanks.
Jo9999
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How do I use the Japanese word 素直(Sunao) for upfront?

I've been trying to find the Japanese word for upfront for a while now. And about two to three days ago, I got my answer. However, every time I try to translate it in a sentence, it says "docile" or "obedient." How do I use it for the aforementioned…
JeremiahTDK
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「たくさん」 is technically, but not practically, a na-nominal (形容動詞) , right?

Dictionaries have 「たくさん」 listed as being either a noun or 形容動詞。Googling "たくさんな" returns only 190,000 hits; none of the top 20 pages are professional websites. Rather, they are only blogs. My impression is that, practically speaking, 「たくさん」 is used…
davewp
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Should we use すきの or すきな?

In 私の好きな歌何ですか？, why 好きな is not 好きの?
imgg
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What does 真っ赤な in the example sentence referring to?

I was playing some video game & I came across this sentence: スプラッタで真っ赤な、すりおろしリンゴが出てきそうで恐い I want to ask what is 真っ赤な's role in this sentence, what does it describe? I have an idea that it describes すりおろしリンゴ, but if that means "grated apples", then…
Thuan Khang
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NA particle meaning?

What does the NA mean in this sentence? Sonna baka NA koto... そんなバカなことは、普通に言わないよ Normally, (you) don't say such a stupid thing
Robb
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Turning a verb phrase into an adjective

I'm trying to translate a song and I came across the following part: 消えてしまいそうな僕は 消える means "to disappear" so 消えてしまい could mean "to disappear accidentally" or, more likely given the context, "to disappear completely". Right? Therefore 消えてしまいそう has…
Gabu
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What is wrong with my translation?

Take the following sentence. 人は魚が好きだ. I thought this meant "Person is likable fish" (I'm new at this) I was told it meant "People like fish" Why?
Orange Mushroom
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Using さ with 形容動詞

In 上を向いて歩こう Kyu Sakamoto says しあわせは, why doesn't he says しあわせさは? How do you know which 形容動詞 can be written as nouns without さ？
user3457
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な adjectives with い always end with -ei?

According to the "Oxford Japanese Grammar & Verbs" book, "There are some words which end in い even though they are な adjectives, not い adjectives. Such words all end in -ei.". But what about 嫌い? It ends with い (not -ei) but it's still a な adjective,…
user43690
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な Adjectives - Only in present tense?

I've doubt about な. I've to use it only when I'm talking in present tense? Example: １）きれいな人だ ２）きれいな人だった The second one is valid? Thanks in advance!
MatayoshiMariano
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Can I use 素敵 to describe a wonderful person?

I want to say that a person is wonderful: 「素敵な人。」 Is there a more appropriate way to tell a person they are wonderful?　This is my entire sentence: 「あなたは素敵な人です。」 I want to use the term to say to a friend.
Jack Bosma
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