Describe things and say what you like
Meet い-adjectives, な-adjectives, and 好き.
What you’ll work on
- Distinguish two adjective patterns
- Describe a thing politely
- Say what you like with が好きです
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Kana readings help you read the written words; they do not show pitch accent.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- このkonothis (before a noun)
- まちmachitown
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- しずかshizukaquiet
- ですdesupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- ね。neseeking agreementInvites the listener to agree.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- はい。haiyes
- きれいなkireinapretty / clean (before a noun)な connects this type of adjective to its noun.
- まちmachitown
- です。desupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- にほんnihonJapan
- のnolinking particleLinks the following noun to the preceding word; its English wording depends on the relationship.
- りょうりryourifood / cuisine
- がgasubject / focus markerMarks the subject or the item described with expressions such as 好き and わかる.
- すきsukiliked / fond ofJapanese describes something as liked; English often uses the verb “like”.
- ですdesupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
好き describes something as liked. English naturally uses “Do you like …?”; Japanese leaves the experiencer understood.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- はい、haiyes
- すきsukiliked / fond ofJapanese describes something as liked; English often uses the verb “like”.
- です。desupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- おいしいoishiidelicious
- ですdesupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- ね。neseeking agreementInvites the listener to agree.
好きです repeats “I like it”; the English reply shortens that to “I do”.
Two useful adjective patterns
An い-adjective such as 高い can go directly before a noun: 高い本, an expensive book. At the end of a polite sentence use 高いです. Its negative is 高くないです.
A な-adjective such as 静か uses な before a noun: 静かな町. At the end use 静かです, without な. Some な-adjectives, including きれい, end in the written sound い. Learn their class with the word.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- このkonothis (before a noun)
- ほんhonbook
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the sentence is about; it does not mean “is”.
- たかいtakaiexpensive / high
- です。desupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- しずかなshizukanaquiet (before a noun)静か is a な-adjective; な connects it to 町.
- まちmachitown
- です。desuis (polite)
“It” is understood from context. English adds the article “a”.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- このkonothis (before a noun)
- ほんhonbook
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- たかくないtakakunainot expensiveThe negative form of the い-adjective 高い.
- です。desupolite sentence endingWith this adjective, です adds polite style; English supplies “is” in its adjective construction.
Likes use their own pattern
好き behaves like a な-adjective, not like the English verb “like.” お茶が好きです means “I like tea.” が marks the thing liked in this basic pattern. The topic, often “I,” can be omitted.
Use 何が好きですか to ask what someone likes. The reading of 何 here is なに. ね at the end can invite agreement; it is different from the information question particle か.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- おちゃochatea
- がgasubject / focus markerMarks the subject or the item described with expressions such as 好き and わかる.
- すきsukiliked / fond ofJapanese describes something as liked; English often uses the verb “like”.
- です。desupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
好きです expresses liking as a description. English adds the understood “I” and uses the verb “like”.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- なにnaniwhat
- がgasubject / focus markerMarks the subject or the item described with expressions such as 好き and わかる.
- すきsukiliked / fond ofJapanese describes something as liked; English often uses the verb “like”.
- ですdesupolite statement endingAdds a polite style. English may use “is”, “am”, or “are”, or leave it unexpressed.
- か。kaquestion markerMakes the sentence a question; English often changes its word order instead.
The subject is understood from context in Japanese. English adds “I”, “you”, or “we” as needed. Match meaningful word groups, not individual characters.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Japanese before looking.
| Japanese / reading | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 高い たかい | expensive / high | |
| 安い やすい | inexpensive | |
| おいしい おいしい | delicious | |
| 静か しずか | quiet (な-adjective) | |
| きれい きれい | pretty / clean (な-adjective) | |
| 好き すき | liked / fond of (な-adjective) |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Punctuation and spacing do not affect your score. Use the displayed Japanese spelling or the complete kana reading; mixed spellings are accepted only when explicitly listed. Long vowels, small kana, and verb endings matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Describe two nearby things and say one food or drink you like.
Writing practice
Write a positive and negative description with 高い, then a phrase containing 静かな.
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