Chapter 12: Describing Qualities, Seasons and Culture
Learn how to describe qualities, talk about seasons, weather, and Japanese cultural topics
In this chapter, you will learn adjectives to describe various qualities and sensations. You
Key topics:
- ・Describing qualities and sensations
- ・Talking about seasons and weather
- ・Japanese cultural topics (food, festivals, arts)
- ・Travel and accommodation vocabulary
- ・Comparative expressions
- ・Describing tastes and temperatures
Vocabulary
1
かんたん
kantan
簡単
easy, simple
Example
この問題はかんたんです.
Kono mondai wa kantan desu.
This problem is easy.
2
ちかい
chikai
近い
near, close
Example
駅はここからちかいです.
Eki wa koko kara chikai desu.
The station is close from here.
3
とおい
tooi
遠い
far
Example
空港はとおいです.
Kūkō wa tooi desu.
The airport is far.
4
はやい
hayai
早い／速()い
fast, early
Example
新幹線ははやいです.
Shinkansen wa hayai desu.
The bullet train is fast.
5
おそい
osoi
遅い
slow, late
Example
このバスはおそいです.
Kono basu wa osoi desu.
This bus is slow.
6
おおい
ooi
多い
many, much
Example
日曜日は人がおおいです.
Nichiyōbi wa hito ga ooi desu.
There are many people on Sundays.
7
すくない
sukunai
少ない
few, little
Example
朝は人がすくないです.
Asa wa hito ga sukunai desu.
There are few people in the morning.
8
あたたかい
atatakai
暖かい
warm
Example
春はあたたかいです.
Haru wa atatakai desu.
Spring is warm.
9
すずしい
suzushii
涼しい
cool
Example
れいぼうをつけます.
Reibou o tsukemasu.
I turn on the cooling.
10
あまい
amai
甘い
sweet
Example
このケーキはあまいです.
Kono kēki wa amai desu.
This cake is sweet.
11
からい
karai
辛い
spicy, salty
Example
韓国料理はからいです.
Kankoku ryōri wa karai desu.
Korean food is spicy.
12
おもい
omoi
重い
heavy
Example
このかばんはおもいです.
Kono kaban wa omoi desu.
This bag is heavy.
13
かるい
karui
軽い
light
Example
この荷物はかるいです.
Kono nimotsu wa karui desu.
This luggage is light.
14
いい
ii
-
good, nice
Example
このコーヒーはいいです.
Kono kōhī wa ii desu.
This coffee is good.
15
きせつ
kisetsu
季節
season
Example
日本には四つのきせつがあります.
Nihon ni wa yottsu no kisetsu ga arimasu.
Japan has four seasons.
16
はる
haru
春
spring
Example
はるに桜が咲きます.
Haru ni sakura ga sakimasu.
Cherry blossoms bloom in spring.
17
なつ
natsu
夏
summer
Example
なつは海に行きます.
Natsu wa umi ni ikimasu.
I go to the sea in summer.
18
あき
aki
秋
autumn
Example
あきの紅葉がきれいです.
Aki no kōyō ga kirei desu.
Autumn leaves are beautiful.
19
ふゆ
fuyu
冬
winter
Example
ふゆにスキーをします.
Fuyu ni sukī o shimasu.
I ski in winter.
20
てんき
tenki
天気
weather
Example
きょうのてんきはいいです.
Kyou no tenki wa ii desu.
Today
21
あめ
ame
雨
rain
Example
明日はあめが降ります.
Ashita wa ame ga furimasu.
It will rain tomorrow.
22
ゆき
yuki
雪
snow
Example
ゆきをみに いきたい です.
Yuki o mi ni ikitai desu.
I want to go see snow.
23
くもり
kumori
曇り
cloudy
Example
今日はくもりです.
Kyō wa kumori desu.
It
24
ホテル
hoteru
-
hotel
Example
このホテルではたらきます.
Kono hoteru de hatarakimasu.
I work at this hotel.
25
くうこう
kūkō
空港
airport
Example
くうこうへ いきます.
Kuukou e ikimasu.
I go to the airport.
26
うみ
umi
海
sea
Example
うみがすきです.
Umi ga suki desu.
I like the sea.
27
せかい
sekai
世界
world
Example
せかい中を旅行したいです.
Sekai jū o ryokō shitai desu.
I want to travel around the world.
28
パーティー
pātī
-
party
Example
たんじょうびパーティーを します.
Tanjoubi paatii o shimasu.
I
29
まつり
matsuri
祭り
festival
Example
フェスティバルが あります.
Fesutibaru ga arimasu.
There
30
しけん
shiken
試験
exam, test
Example
日本語のしけんがあります.
Nihongo no shiken ga arimasu.
I have a Japanese exam.
31
すきやき
sukiyaki
すき焼き
sukiyaki
Example
冬にすきやきを食べます.
Fuyu ni sukiyaki o tabemasu.
I eat sukiyaki in winter.
32
さしみ
sashimi
刺身
sashimi
Example
新鮮なさしみが好きです.
Shinsen na sashimi ga suki desu.
I like fresh sashimi.
33
すし
sushi
寿司
sushi
Example
すしをたべたいです.
Sushi o tabetai desu.
I want to eat sushi.
34
てんぷら
tenpura
天ぷら
tempura
Example
てんぷらをたべたいです.
Tenpura o tabetai desu.
I want to eat tempura.
35
いけばな
ikebana
生け花
ikebana (flower arrangement)
Example
いけばなを習っています.
Ikebana o naratte imasu.
I
36
もみじ
momiji
紅葉
autumn leaves, maple
Example
京都のもみじが有名です.
Kyōto no momiji ga yūmei desu.
Kyoto
37
どちら
dochira
-
which one (of two)
Example
コーヒーと紅茶、どちらがいいですか.
Kōhī to kōcha, dochira ga ii desu ka?
Which is better, coffee or tea?
38
どちらも
dochira mo
-
both
Example
りんごとみかん、どちらも好きです.
Ringo to mikan, dochira mo suki desu.
I like both apples and oranges.
39
ずっと
zutto
-
by far, much (more), always
Example
彼女は私よりずっと背が高いです.
Kanojo wa watashi yori zutto se ga takai desu.
She is much taller than me.
40
はじめて
hajimete
初めて
for the first time
Example
はじめて すいぞくかんにいきました.
Hajimete suizokukan ni ikimashita.
I went to the aquarium for the first time.
Conversation
1
ただいま
tadaima
I
Example Usage
ただいま.
Tadaima.
I
2
おかえりなさい
okaerinasai
Welcome back
Example Usage
おかえりなさい.
Okaerinasai.
Welcome back.
3
すごいですね
sugoi desu ne
That
Example Usage
日本語がじょうずですごいですね.
Nihongo ga jouzu de sugoi desu ne.
Your Japanese is good, that
4
でも
demo
But / However
Example Usage
いきたいです.でも、じかんがありません.
Ikitai desu. Demo, jikan ga arimasen.
I want to go. But, I don
5
つかれました
tsukaremashita
I
Example Usage
きょうはしごとでつかれました.
Kyou wa shigoto de tsukaremashita.
I
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Describing qualities with adjectives
Structure: [Topic] は [Adjective] です (predicate) / [Adjective] + [Noun] (modifier)
Use adjectives to describe the quality or state of a noun. When an adjective ends a sentence, it acts as the predicate: い-adjectives appear directly (plus です for politeness), while な-adjectives require です When an adjective modifies a noun directly, い-adjectives stay as-is, but な-adjectives add な before the noun.
How to use: For predicate use: take the topic with は, then add the adjective. For い-adjectives: just the adjective + です (e.g., このりんごはあまいです). For な-adjectives: stem + です (e.g., このまちはしずかです). For modifying nouns: い-adjective directly before noun (あまいりんご); な-adjective stem + な + noun (しずかなまち).
💡 Pro Tip: Remember that いい (good) is irregular: いいです (present), よくないです (negative), よかったです (past). For な-adjectives, never add な before です (❌ しずかなです). Some adjectives like おなじ (same) look like な-adjectives but can also be used with の in some contexts.
Examples
このりんごはあまいです.
Kono ringo wa amai desu.
→ This apple is sweet.
あのひとしんせつです.
Ano hito wa shinsetsu desu.
→ That person is kind.
Rule 2: Comparative expressions with どちら
Structure: A と B と どちらが [Adjective] ですか
Use どちら when comparing two items or options. The particle と marks each item being compared, and どちら means
How to use: List the two items, each followed by と, then add どちらが, then the adjective, then ですか. Example: なつ と ふゆ と どちらが すき ですか (Which do you prefer, summer or winter?). To answer: say the chosen item + のほうが + adjective + です (e.g., なつのほうがすきです).
💡 Pro Tip: For comparing three or more items, use どれ (which one) instead of どちら. In casual conversation, どっち is used instead of どちら. Do not forget the second と before どちら. When asking
Examples
なつとふゆとどちらがすきですか.
Natsu to fuyu to dochira ga suki desu ka.
→ Which do you prefer, summer or winter?
ねこといぬとどちらがかわいいですか.
Neko to inu to dochira ga kawaii desu ka.
→ Which is cuter, cats or dogs?
Rule 3: Time expressions with はじめて
Structure: はじめて + [Verb]
Put はじめて (for the first time) before a verb to indicate that you are doing or experiencing something for the first time. It emphasizes the novelty of the experience. This works with past, present, and future verbs, though it is most common in past tense describing a first-time experience.
How to use: Simply place はじめて directly before the verb (any tense). Example: はじめて にほんに いきました (I went to Japan for the first time). For negative: はじめて + negative verb (e.g., はじめてすしをたべませんでした = I didn
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse はじめて (first time) with はじめに (first, as a sequence step) or はじまる (to begin). はじめて can also be used as an adverb before an adjective: はじめてのけいけん (first experience). For
Examples
はじめてにほんにいきました.
Hajimete Nihon ni ikimashita.
→ I went to Japan for the first time.
きょうはじめてすしをたべました.
Kyō hajimete sushi o tabemashita.
→ I ate sushi for the first time today.
Rule 4: Emphasis with ずっと
Structure: ずっと + [Adjective] です (or ずっと + [Comparative Phrase])
Use ずっと before an adjective or comparative phrase to emphasize a large degree of difference. It means
How to use: Place ずっと before the adjective or before the comparative phrase. Example: とうきょう は おおさか より ずっと おおきいです (Tokyo is much bigger than Osaka). Without comparison: きょうは ずっと あついです (Today is much hotter — implied than before or than usual). Can also use with ほうが: こっちのほうがずっとやすいです (This one is much cheaper).
💡 Pro Tip: ずっと is stronger than もっと (more). もっと simply means
Examples
とうきょうはおおさかよりずっとおおきいです.
Tōkyō wa Ōsaka yori zutto ōkii desu.
→ Tokyo is much bigger than Osaka.
このカメラはあのカメラよりずっとやすいです.
Kono kamera wa ano kamera yori zutto yasui desu.
→ This camera is much cheaper than that camera.
Exercises
Question 1
Choose the correct way to say
このりんごは ______ です.
Question 2
あのひとは ______ です.
Question 3
How do you say
Question 4
Complete the phrase meaning
______ まち
Question 5
How do you ask
Question 6
Complete the answer meaning
なつ ______ ______ すきです.
Question 7
When comparing three or more items, which word do you use?
Question 8
______ にほんに いきました.
Question 9
What does
Question 10
とうきょうは おおさか より ______ おおきいです.
Question 11
What is the difference between ずっと and もっと?
Question 12
こっちのほうが ______ やすいです.
Question 13
What is the past tense of いい (good) in polite form?
Question 14
Complete the question meaning
ねこ と いぬ と ______ が かわいい ですか.
Question 15
Which word means
Question 16
きょうは ______ あついです.
Question 17
How do you say
Question 18
Complete the question meaning
どちらが ______ おもしろいですか.
Question 19
What does
Question 20
Complete the answer meaning
こっち ______ ______ ずっと いいです.