N539/133

い-Adjective + Noun

い-Adjective + Noun

Meanings

  • Describes a noun using an i-adjective
  • Uses an i-adjective to modify a noun
  • Attributive form of i-adjectives before a noun

About this pattern

Explanation

In Japanese, i-adjectives directly modify a noun by appearing in front of it, without changing their form. The i-adjective stays in its dictionary form (the form ending in い) when describing a noun. This is the attributive position. Examples include 高い山 (tall mountain), 赤い花 (red flower), and 美しい景色 (beautiful scenery). Note that the same adjective can be used predicatively after the noun with a copula, e.g., 山は高いです, but before a noun it remains in its plain form (高い, 赤い, 美しい). You can combine multiple attributes by placing several i-adjectives in sequence before the noun if needed.

Learn in context

Example sentences

高い山

a tall mountain

赤い花

a red flower

美しい景色

a beautiful景色