Japanese Adjectives Ending in I

In the Japanese language, adjectives can be divided into 2 types, those that end in “i” [い] and those that end in “na” [な]. In this article, we will learn a little about the Japanese adjectives ending in “i” [い] called keiyoushi.

Japanese adjectives are words that attribute a quality or characteristic to nouns. The adjectives of type [い] have this name because they end with the letter [i].

So whenever you come across a Japanese word that ends with [い] before a noun, it is probably an adjective.

We also recommend reading:

Table of Contents

Conjugating adjectives ending with i [い]

There are several ways to conjugate adjectives in [い]. One of them is using suffixes such as:

です – Desu is a polite way to end sentences with adjectives;
くない – Kunai is a negative form of saying that something is not a certain adjective;
なる – To become and transform;
かった – Past;

くない Form – Negative

To conjugate an adjective as negative, simply replace [い] with [くない]. Here is an example of the negative sentence: It is not cool;

凄くないです
Sugokunai desu

く- Form – Connection with て

The “KU” [く] also serves to connect a sentence using the te form [て] as in the sentence: It is red and beautiful;

赤くてきれいです。
akakute kirei desu

We recommend reading: Te (て) – How this form works in Japanese?

-えば Form – Condition “if”

The “-EBA” [えば] form is used to indicate condition, for example: if it is red;

赤ければ
akakereba

なる Form – To Become

By ending adjectives with “NARU” [なる] (meaning to become or transform), you can create the following expressions: My room will be bigger;

私の部屋は広くなる 
watashi no heya wa hirokunaru

かった Form – Past

You can use “KATTA” [かった] which indicates the past:

furukatta ie [古かった家] House that was old;
sugokatta desu [凄かったです] It was cool;
sugokunakatta [凄くなかった] It was not cool;

There are other forms as well, but we will not go into details to avoid too much confusion. Not to mention that there are many ways to merge the adjective with verbs. Below, we will leave some other forms of conjugation:

souda [そうだ] Indicates seeming to be. Except for ない (なさそう) and よい;
kattari [かったり] Indicates a momentary situation;
kunakattari [くなかったり] Negative form of かったり;
kute [くて] Connection form;
kunakereba [くなければ] Negative form of ければ;
sugiru [すぎる] Equivalent to “too much”; excessive;
sa [さ] Transforms the “adjective” into a “noun”;
ki [き] Used poetically;
me [め] In a way…
mi [み] Adjectives become verbs with the ending む, like kanashimu, tanoshimu, kurushimu;

List of Adjectives ending in i [い]

Now let’s see a list of adjectives ending in [い] so you can practice and memorize.

Download this audio to practice speaking using the table below: Click Here.

Abunai [危ない] Dangerous.
Akai [赤い] Red.
Akarui [明るい] Bright, illuminated; cheerful person. ⇔ Kurai 暗い
Amai [甘い] Sweet. ⇔ Nigai 苦い
Aoi [青い] Blue, green (in the case of traffic lights).
Arai [荒い] Rough (attitude); coarse (surface).
Arigatai [ありがたい] Grateful.
Asai [浅い] Shallow, not deep. ⇔ Fukai 深い
Atarashii [新しい] New. ⇔ Furui 古い
Atatakai [暖かい] Warm, cozy. ⇔ Samui 寒い
Atsui [厚い] Thick. ⇔ Usui 薄い
Atsui [暑い] Hot (environment). ⇔ Samui 寒い
Atsui [熱い] Hot (object). ⇔ Tsumetai 冷たい
Awatadashii [あわただしい] Said when one is very busy and does not know what to do.
Ayashii [怪しい] That causes distrust.
Chiisai [小さい] Small. ⇔ Ookii 大きい
Chikai [近い] Close. ⇔ Tooi 遠い
Darui [だるい] Said when the body is weak.
Erai [偉い] Important, grand; extreme
Fukai [深い] Deep. ⇔ Asai 浅い
Furui [古い] Old. ⇔ Atarashii 新しい
Fusawashii [相応しい] Appropriate, fitting, due.
Futoi [太い] Thick in diameter; thick. ⇔ Hosoi 細い
Hageshii [激しい] Violent; expresses being more than normal.
Hanahadashii [はなはだしい] Extreme.
Hanahanashii [華々しい] Beautiful; grand.
Hayai [早い] Early, fast (time). ⇔ Osoi 遅い
Hayai [速い] Fast (speed). ⇔ Osoi 遅い
Hazukashii [恥ずかしい] Embarrassed.
Hidoi [ひどい] Extreme; excessive.
Hikui [低い] Low. ⇔ Takai 高い
Hiroi [広い] Wide, large area. ⇔ Semai 狭い
Hitoshii [等しい] Equal, equivalent.
Hoshii [欲しい] To have desire.
Ichijirushii [著しい] Remarkable.
Ii [いい] Good. ⇔ Warui 悪い
Isamashii [勇ましい] Brave.
Isogashii [忙しい] Busy, occupied.
Itai [痛い] Painful.
Iyashii [卑しい] Low, vile, despicable.
Kagayakashii [輝かしい] Shining.
Kanashii [悲しい] Sad. ⇔ Ureshii 嬉しい
Karai [辛い] Spicy (taste).
Karui [軽い] Light; easy ⇔ Omoi 重い
Kashikoi [賢い] Smart.
Katai [かたい] Hard. ⇔ Yawarakai 柔らかい
Kawaii [かわいい] Cute, dear.
Kawairashii [かわいらしい] Dear, kind. ⇔ Nikurashii 憎らしい
Kayui [痒い] Itchy.
Kemui [煙い] Smoky.
Kewashii [険しい] Dangerous (place).
Kibishii [厳しい] Strict.
Kiiroi [黄色い] Yellow.
Kimuzukashii [気難しい] Difficult to deal with (person).
Kitanai [汚い] Dirty. ⇔ 清い
Kitsui [きつい] Heavy (work, attitude).
Kiyoi [清い] Clear. ⇔ Kitanai 汚い
Koi [濃い] Thick, dense (liquid). ⇔ Usui 薄い
Koishii [恋しい] Longing.
Kokoroyoi [快い] Pleasant.
Komakai [細かい] Detailed; small.
Konomashii [好ましい] Preferable.
Kowai [怖い] That gives (has) fear.
Kudoi [くどい] Annoying person; past (taste).
Kurai [暗い] Dark (environment). ⇔ Akarui 明るい
Kuroi [黒い] Black color.
Kurushii [苦しい] That causes suffering.
Kusai [臭い] Unpleasant odor.
Kusuguttai [くすぐったい] That tickles.
Kuwashii [詳しい] Detailed; person with deep knowledge on the subject.
Kuyashii [悔しい] Feeling of regret for not having succeeded.
Mabushii [眩しい] Dazzling.
Magirawashii [紛らわしい] That deceives, ambiguous, that leaves in doubt.
Marui [丸い] Round in shape.
Mazui [まずい] Badly done; bad taste. ⇔ うまい, おいしい
Mazushii [貧しい] Poor.
Medetai [めでたい] Desire to celebrate.
Mezurashii [珍しい] Rare.
Migurushii [見苦しい] That causes suffering to look at.
Mijikai [短い] Short. ⇔ Nagai 長い
Minikui [醜い] Ugly. ⇔ Utsukushii 美しい
Misuboroshii [みすぼらしい] That appears poor.
Mittomonai [みっともない] Shameful.
Monosugoi [物凄い] Incredible, impressive.
Moroi [もろい] Fragile, easy to break.
Munashii [空しい] Empty.
Muzukashii [難しい] Difficult. ⇔ Yasashii 易しい
Nagai [長い] Long. ⇔ Mijikai 短い
Nai [無い] That does not have.
Namanamashii [生々しい] New; vivid.
Natsukashii [懐かしい] That brings nostalgia.
Nemui [眠い] Sleepy.
Nibui [鈍い] Slow to respond (movement), blunt (object). ⇔ Surudoi 鋭い
Nigai [苦い] Bitter. ⇔ Amai 甘い
Nikui [憎い] Hateful.
Nikurashii [憎らしい] Hateful. ⇔ かわいらしい
Noroi [のろい] Slow.
Nurui [ぬるい] Lukewarm (liquid).
Oishii [おいしい] Delicious. ⇔ まずい
Okashii [おかしい] Strange; funny.
Omedetai [おめでたい] Polite form of めでたい.
Omoi [重い] Heavy. ⇔ Karui 軽い
Omoshiroi [おもしろい] Interesting; funny. ⇔ つまらない
Ooi [多い] Numerous. ⇔ Sukunai 少ない
Ookii [大きい] Big. ⇔ Chiisai 小さい
Osanai [幼い] Childish, infantile.
Oshii [惜しい] Feeling of regret, waste.
Osoi [遅い] Slow; late. ⇔ はやい
Osoroshii [恐ろしい] That gives fear, horror.
Otonashii [おとなしい] Calm, docile.
Sabi(mi)shii [寂しい] Feeling of loneliness.
Samui [寒い] Cold (environment). ⇔ Atsui 暑い, Atatakai 暖かい
Sawagashii [騒がしい] Noisy.
Semai [狭い] Narrow. ⇔ Hiroi 広い
Shibui [渋い] Astringent taste; grumpy.
Shiroi [白い] White (color).
Shitashii [親しい] Intimate.
Shitsukoi [しつこい] Annoying, bothersome.
Sosokkashii [そそっかしい] Careless
Sôzôshii [騒々しい] Noisy.
Subarashii [素晴らしい] Wonderful.
Sugasugashii [すがすがしい] Refreshing.
Sugoi [すごい] Incredible, impressive, awesome.
Sukunai [少ない] Few in number. ⇔ Ooi 多い
Suppai [酸っぱい] Sour taste.
Surudoi [鋭い] Sharp (person); pointed (object). ⇔ Nibui 鈍い
Susamajii [すさまじい] Impressive.
Suzushii [涼しい] Cool (weather).
Tadashii [正しい] Correct.
Takai [高い] High (object, price). ⇔ Hikui 低い
Takumashii [逞しい] Strong, robust.
Tanomoshii [頼もしい] Reliable, trustworthy.
Tanoshii [楽しい] Fun. ⇔ つまらない
Tayasui [たやすい] Easy.
Toboshii [乏しい] Poor, scarce.
Tooi [遠い] Distant, far. ⇔ Chikai 近い
Tsumaranai [つまらない] Boring, uninteresting. ⇔ おもしろい, Tanoshii 楽しい
Tsumetai [冷たい] Cold, chilly (things). ⇔ Atsui 熱い, Atatakai 暖かい
Tsurai [辛い] Hard, painful.
Tsuyoi [強い] Strong. ⇔ Yowai 弱い
Umai [うまい] Well done; tasty. ⇔ まずい
Urameshii [恨めしい] That makes us feel pity, anger.
Urayamashii [うらやましい] Enviable.
Ureshii [嬉しい] Happy. ⇔ Kanashii 悲しい
Urusai [うるさい] Noisy.
Usugurai [薄暗い] Somewhat dark (environment).
Usui [薄い] Thin (condensation); light color. ⇔ Koi 濃い
Utagawashii [疑わしい] That brings distrust.
Utoi [疎い] Little known, not intimate.
Utsukushii [美しい] Beautiful, pretty. ⇔ Minikui 醜い
Uttôshii [うっとうしい] Gloomy, dark.
Wakai [若い] Young (time, age).
Warui [悪い] Bad, evil. ⇔ Yoi 良い
Wazurawashii [煩わしい] Noisy, bothersome.
Yabai [やばい] Dangerous; expresses a bad situation.
Yakamashii [やかましい] Noisy; demanding; strict.
Yasashii [優しい] Gentle character, docile.
Yasashii [ ] Easy. ⇔ Muzukashii 難しい
Yasui [安い] Cheap. ⇔ Takai 高い
Yawarakai [柔らかい] Soft, tender. ⇔ かたい
Yoi [良い] Good. ⇔ Warui 悪い
Yoroshii [よろしい] Polite form of 良い.
Yowai [弱い] Weak. ⇔ Tsuyoi 強い
Yurui [緩い] Loose (things).
Zurui [ずるい] Clever, sly.
Zûzûshii [ずうずうしい] Shameless.

Videos about i [い] adjectives in Japanese

To finish, let’s share some videos for you to study. I hope you enjoyed this short article… If you liked it, share our list of adjectives ending in i [い] with your friends.