Nihongo wa muzukashikunai to omoimasu
In this section, you will learn the short forms of i-adjectives.
| Short form | Long form | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | yasashii | yasashiidesu |
| Negative | yasashikunai | yasashikunaidesu |
| Past-affirmative | yasashikatta | yasashikattadesu |
| Past-negative | yasashikunakatta | yasashikunakattadesu |
How to make short forms
The short forms of i-adjectives are derived by removing “desu” from their long forms. In Japanese grammar, “desu” is the polite copula used in formal contexts or when politeness is required. By omitting “desu”, the adjective takes on its short form.
How to use short forms
Short forms in Japanese serve multiple functions: they are used within sentences to express statements or actions, and they also frequently appear at the end of sentences to convey conclusions or implications. These forms are versatile, enabling casual communication in conversations among friends or family, and they are often accompanied by various ending particles like “no”, “yo”, “ne”, “ndesu”, and “ndakedo”, which add nuances of emphasis, explanation, confirmation, or seeking agreement.
At the end of statements
Short forms in Japanese are employed to express statements, whether in soliloquy, reports, or other forms of communication. They are particularly common in conversations among close relationships, where they often accompany various ending particles.
Jasutinsan wa yasashii.
Jasutinsan wa yasashii ne!
Jasutinsan wa yasashii yone!
Nihongo wa muzukashikunai.
Nihongo wa muzukashikunai yo.
In modifier clauses (in senteces)
Short forms in Japanese function as modifiers, which can also take the form of clauses. Similar to normal adjectives, these modifiers precede nouns they qualify. In the sentences below, the highlighted short forms (oranges) qualify the words that follow.
yasashii jasutinsan
doubutsu ni yasashii jasutinsan