Adjectives & Descriptions

Introduction

N3 adjectives add precision and subtlety to your Japanese. Where N4 gave you the basics of description, this level introduces words that let you distinguish between 微妙な (subtle) and 明確な (clear-cut), or describe something as 膨大な (enormous) rather than just 大きい.

These adjectives are essential for natural-sounding Japanese at the intermediate level.

Themes

All JLPT N3 Vocabulary in This Chapter (237)

1. 明らか あきらか Clear; obvious; evident. Used to describe something plainly apparent or beyond doubt.
2. 曖昧 あいまい Vague; ambiguous; unclear. Describes something lacking precision or definiteness.
3. 深刻 しんこく Serious; severe; grave. Describes a situation or problem of significant weight or urgency.
4. 重大 じゅうだい Serious; important; significant. Describes matters of great weight or consequence.
5. 軽微 けいび Slight; minor; insignificant. Describes something small in degree or impact.
6. 巨大 きょだい Huge; gigantic; enormous. Describes something of extraordinary size or scale.
7. 膨大 ぼうだい Huge; vast; enormous. Describes an overwhelming quantity or volume.
8. 莫大 ばくだい Vast; immense; enormous. Describes an extremely large amount, especially of money or costs.
9. 豊富 ほうふ Abundant; plentiful; rich. Describes having a large quantity or variety of something.
10. 貴重 きちょう Precious; valuable. Describes something rare or highly valued.
11. 重要 じゅうよう Important; essential; significant. Describes something of great value or consequence.
12. 不可欠 ふかけつ Indispensable; essential. Describes something that absolutely cannot be done without.
13. 有効 ゆうこう Valid; effective. Describes something that works well or is officially recognised.
14. 有利 ゆうり Advantageous; favourable. Describes a position or condition that gives a benefit or edge.
15. 公平 こうへい Fair; impartial; just. Describes treating everyone equally without bias.
16. 不公平 ふこうへい Unfair; unjust; partial. Describes treatment or situations that lack equality.
17. 適切 てきせつ Appropriate; suitable; fitting. Describes something that is exactly right for the situation.
18. 不適切 ふてきせつ Inappropriate; unsuitable; improper. Describes something that does not fit the situation.
19. 妥当 だとう Valid; proper; reasonable. Describes something that is logically sound or appropriate.
20. 合理的 ごうりてき Rational; reasonable; logical. Describes something based on sound reasoning or efficiency.
21. 非合理的 ひごうりてき Illogical; irrational; unreasonable. Describes something that defies sound reasoning.
22. 客観的 きゃっかんてき Objective. Describes a viewpoint or judgment based on facts rather than personal feelings.
23. 主観的 しゅかんてき Subjective. Describes a viewpoint or judgment influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
24. 一方的 いっぽうてき One-sided; unilateral. Describes actions or situations where only one party acts or benefits.
25. 相互的 そうごてき Mutual; reciprocal. Describes a relationship or action that goes both ways.
26. 永久 えいきゅう Eternity; permanence; perpetuity. Describes something lasting forever without end.
27. 一時的 いちじてき Temporary; transitory; short-lived. Describes something that lasts only for a limited time.
28. 暫定的 ざんていてき Provisional; temporary; tentative; interim. Describes arrangements made until a final decision.
29. むしろ むしろ Rather; better; instead; if anything. Used to express a preference or correction.
30. かえって かえって On the contrary; rather; instead; all the more. Indicates an unexpected opposite result.
31. たちまち たちまち In an instant; immediately; right away; at once. Describes extremely rapid change.
32. いきなり いきなり Abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning. Describes an unexpected action.
33. しばしば しばしば Often; frequently; again and again; repeatedly. Indicates recurring actions.
34. めったに めったに Rarely; seldom. Almost always used with negative verbs to mean 'hardly ever.'
35. ろくに ろくに (Not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough. Always used with negation to express insufficiency.
36. やはり やはり As expected; sure enough; just as one thought. Confirms something previously suspected.
37. いかに いかに How; in what way. Used to emphasise degree or manner in formal contexts.
38. まるで まるで As if; as though; just like. Used for vivid comparisons and similes.
39. あたかも あたかも As if; as it were; as though. A literary adverb for vivid comparisons.
40. いわば いわば So to speak; as it were; in a manner of speaking. Introduces a figurative expression.
41. つまり つまり That is to say; in other words; I mean. Used to rephrase or summarise a point.
42. すなわち すなわち That is to say; namely; i.e. Used to define or specify what was just mentioned.
43. なお なお Still; yet; furthermore; in addition. Indicates continuation or adds supplementary information.
44. ただし ただし But; however; provided that. Introduces a condition or exception to a previous statement.
45. ちなみに ちなみに By the way; incidentally; in passing. Adds related but non-essential information.
46. 様々 さまざま Varied; various; diverse. Describes a wide range of different things.
47. さらに さらに Furthermore; moreover; even more. Adds emphasis or additional information.
48. 四角 しかく Square; rectangle; four-cornered shape. A basic geometric term.
49. じかに じかに Directly; immediately; in person; firsthand. Without any intermediary.
50. しきりに しきりに Frequently; repeatedly; eagerly; incessantly. Describes persistent repeated action.
51. 親しい したしい Intimate; close; friendly. Describes a deep, personal bond between people.
52. 誠に まことに Indeed; truly; sincerely. A formal intensifier expressing genuine feeling or emphasis.
53. 実は じつは Actually; in fact; to tell the truth. Used to introduce unexpected or previously withheld information.
54. 地味 じみ Plain; subdued; understated. Describes something modest and lacking flashiness.
55. 主要 しゅよう Chief; main; principal. Indicates the most important element among several.
56. 順調 じゅんちょう Smooth; favourable; going well. Describes progress without obstacles.
57. 正午 しょうご Noon; midday. The exact point of 12:00 PM.
58. 少々 しょうしょう A little; a small amount; a moment. The formal equivalent of 少し.
59. 上等 じょうとう First-class; superior; high-quality. Describes something of excellent grade.
60. 徐々に じょじょに Gradually; slowly; little by little. Describes a steady, incremental change.
61. 真剣 しんけん Serious; earnest; genuine. Describes wholehearted commitment or intensity.
62. 新鮮 しんせん Fresh; new and vivid. Describes food, air, or experiences that feel unspoiled and invigorating.
63. 慎重 しんちょう Careful; cautious; prudent. Describes a deliberate and risk-averse approach.
64. 少なくとも すくなくとも At least; at the minimum. Sets a lower bound on quantity, time, or degree.
65. 少しも すこしも Not at all; not one bit; not in the least. Emphatic negation used with negative verbs.
66. ずっと ずっと For a long time; all along; by far. Expresses continuity or a large degree of difference.
67. 素敵 すてき Lovely; wonderful; fantastic. A warm compliment for people, places, or things.
68. 既に すでに Already; previously. Indicates that something has been completed before the reference point.
69. 鋭い するどい Sharp; keen; acute. Describes physical sharpness or perceptive intelligence.
70. 精々 せいぜい At most; at best. Sets an upper limit, often with a slightly dismissive tone.
71. 絶対 ぜったい Absolutely; definitely; without fail. Expresses complete certainty or an unbreakable commitment.
72. 相変わらず あいかわらず As ever; as usual; same as always. Notes that a situation remains unchanged.
73. 生憎 あいにく Unfortunately; unluckily. Used when circumstances are unfavourable or disappointing.
74. 辺り あたり Vicinity; nearby area; neighbourhood. Refers to the general surroundings of a place.
75. 当たり前 あたりまえ Natural; obvious; taken for granted. Describes something considered normal or self-evident.
76. ほぼ ほぼ Almost; nearly; approximately. Indicates something close to completion or totality.
77. 新た あらた New; fresh; novel. Describes something recently begun or renewed.
78. 案外 あんがい Unexpectedly; contrary to expectations. Expresses surprise at an outcome differing from what was anticipated.
79. あんなに あんなに To that extent; so much; that much. Emphasises the degree of something observed or remembered.
80. いけない いけない Must not; should not; bad; wrong. Expresses prohibition or that something is unacceptable.
81. 意地悪 いじわる Mean; spiteful; unkind. Describes a person or behaviour that is deliberately nasty.
82. 偉大 いだい Great; mighty; magnificent. Describes exceptional accomplishment or impressive stature.
83. 一度に いちどに All at once; at one time. Describes doing something in a single action rather than in stages.
84. いつか いつか Sometime; someday; one day. Refers to an unspecified time in the future or past.
85. 一瞬 いっしゅん A moment; an instant; a split second. Describes an extremely brief period of time.
86. 一生 いっしょう One's whole life; lifetime; throughout life. Refers to the entire span from birth to death.
87. 一層 いっそう Much more; still more; all the more. Emphasises an increase in degree or intensity.
88. 一体 いったい What on earth; what in the world. Used to intensify questions expressing bewilderment or frustration.
89. いつでも いつでも Anytime; always; whenever. Expresses availability or constant readiness without time restriction.
90. いつの間にか いつのまにか Before one knows it; without noticing; at some point. Describes something that happened unnoticed.
91. いつまでも いつまでも Forever; for good; indefinitely. Expresses something continuing without end.
92. 今に いまに Before long; soon; eventually. Predicts something will happen in the near future.
93. 今にも いまにも At any moment; on the verge of; about to. Describes imminent action on the brink of happening.
94. 羨ましい うらやましい Envious; jealous; enviable. Expresses longing for what someone else has or experiences.
95. 永遠 えいえん Eternity; perpetuity; forever. Refers to an infinite or unending span of time.
96. 大いに おおいに Greatly; very much; considerably. Emphasises a large degree or significant extent.
97. 幼い おさない Very young; childish; immature. Describes someone or something characteristic of early childhood.
98. 恐ろしい おそろしい Terrible; dreadful; frightening. Describes something that inspires fear or is shockingly extreme.
99. お互い おたがい Each other; mutual; reciprocal. Refers to a shared or two-way relationship between people.
100. 穏やか おだやか Calm; gentle; mild. Describes a peaceful, undisturbed state of weather, personality, or atmosphere.
101. 大人しい おとなしい Quiet; docile; well-behaved. Describes someone or something that is calm and obedient.
102. 主に おもに Mainly; primarily; chiefly. Used to indicate the most significant portion or focus.
103. 思わず おもわず Unintentionally; involuntarily; without thinking. Describes an action done spontaneously.
104. およそ およそ About; roughly; approximately. Used to give an estimated number or general idea.
105. 温暖 おんだん Warm; mild. Describes a pleasantly warm climate or temperature.
106. 確実 かくじつ Certain; sure; reliable. Describes something definite and beyond doubt.
107. 賢い かしこい Wise; clever; smart. Describes intelligence, particularly practical or street-smart wisdom.
108. 必ずしも かならずしも Not always; not necessarily. Used with negative predicates to express partial negation.
109. かなり かなり Considerably; fairly; quite. Indicates a degree that is more than expected.
110. 可能 かのう Possible; feasible; practicable. Describes something that can be done or achieved.
111. 痒い かゆい Itchy; itching. Describes the physical sensation of needing to scratch.
112. かわいそう かわいそう Poor thing; pitiable; feeling sorry for. Expresses sympathy or pity towards someone.
113. 可愛らしい かわいらしい Lovely; sweet; adorable. A slightly more refined way of saying cute.
114. 完全 かんぜん Perfect; complete; flawless. Describes a state with nothing lacking or deficient.
115. きつい きつい Tight; intense; harsh. Describes something physically tight, mentally demanding, or severe.
116. 気の毒 きのどく Pitiful; unfortunate; feeling sorry. Expresses sympathy for someone in a difficult situation.
117. 奇妙 きみょう Strange; peculiar; curious. Describes something unusual that defies normal expectations.
118. 疑問 ぎもん Question; doubt; uncertainty. A point that is unclear or open to question.
119. 逆 ぎゃく Reverse; opposite; contrary. Indicates the opposite direction, order, or meaning.
120. 急激 きゅうげき Sudden; drastic; sharp. Describes a rapid and intense change.
121. 急速 きゅうそく Rapid; swift; fast-paced. Describes progress or change happening at high speed.
122. 急に きゅうに Suddenly; abruptly; all at once. Describes an unexpected, rapid change or event.
123. 器用 きよう Skillful; dexterous; handy. Describes someone who is good with their hands or adept at various tasks.
124. 共通 きょうつう Common; shared; mutual. Describes something that two or more parties have in common.
125. 臭い くさい Stinky; smelly; bad-smelling. Describes an unpleasant odour.
126. ぐっすり ぐっすり Sound asleep; fast asleep. Describes sleeping deeply and peacefully.
127. 悔しい くやしい Frustrating; vexing; mortifying. Describes the bitter feeling of regret or defeat.
128. 苦しい くるしい Painful; agonising; tough. Describes physical or emotional distress and hardship.
129. 暮れ くれ Year end; dusk; the close of a period. Refers to the end of the year or the fading of daylight.
130. 詳しい くわしい Detailed; thorough; well-informed. Describes information that is comprehensive or a person who is knowledgeable.
131. ケチ けち Stingy; cheap; miserly. Describes a person who is excessively reluctant to spend money.
132. 結局 けっきょく After all; in the end; eventually. Sums up the final outcome of a situation.
133. 濃い こい Thick; dense; strong; dark. Describes concentrated colour, flavour, or density.
134. 幸運 こううん Good luck; good fortune. Describes a favourable turn of events or a blessed state.
135. 豪華 ごうか Luxurious; gorgeous; extravagant. Describes something lavish and impressive in quality or appearance.
136. 公正 こうせい Fair; just; impartial. Describes decisions, judgments, or processes free from bias.
137. 高速 こうそく High speed; express. Describes rapid movement or fast-paced systems and infrastructure.
138. ごく ごく Quite; very; extremely. An intensifier used to emphasise that something is to a remarkable degree.
139. 今回 こんかい This time; now; the current occasion. Refers to the present instance of a recurring event.
140. 今後 こんご From now on; hereafter; in the future. Refers to the period of time starting from the present.
141. こんなに こんなに This much; so much; to this extent. Expresses surprise or emphasis about a degree or amount.
142. 最低 さいてい Lowest; worst; minimum. Describes the bottom of a scale in quality, value, or degree.
143. 幸い さいわい Fortunately; luckily; happily. Indicates that something turned out well despite potential risk.
144. ざっと ざっと Roughly; approximately; at a glance. Describes doing something quickly and without fine detail.
145. 密 みつ Dense; close; tight; crowded. Describes things packed closely together or done in secret.
146. 妙 みょう Strange; unusual; peculiar. Describes something oddly off or inexplicably different from normal.
147. 明後日 あさって Day after tomorrow. A common time expression used in everyday planning and scheduling.
148. 蒸し暑い むしあつい Humid; muggy; sultry. Describes hot weather with heavy moisture in the air.
149. 無駄 むだ Futile; useless; wasteful. Describes something that yields no productive result.
150. 夢中 むちゅう Absorbed; engrossed; crazy about. Describes being completely captivated by something.
151. 明確 めいかく Clear; definite; explicit. Describes something stated or understood without ambiguity.
152. もしかすると もしかすると Perhaps; maybe; possibly. Expresses uncertainty about something that might happen.
153. もしも もしも If; supposing. A stronger, more emphatic form of もし used in hypothetical statements.
154. 厄介 やっかい Troublesome; burdensome; annoying. Describes something or someone that causes difficulty or inconvenience.
155. やや やや Slightly; somewhat; a little. Indicates a small degree or marginal amount.
156. 唯一 ゆいいつ Only; sole; unique. Describes something that is one of a kind with no alternatives.
157. 友好 ゆうこう Friendship; amity; friendly relations. Describes warm, cooperative relationships between groups or nations.
158. 優秀 ゆうしゅう Excellent; outstanding; superior. Describes exceptional ability or performance.
159. 愉快 ゆかい Pleasant; cheerful; delightful. Describes a happy, enjoyable feeling or atmosphere.
160. 陽気 ようき Cheerful; lively; sunny disposition. Also refers to the season or weather.
161. 要するに ようするに In short; in a word; basically. Used to summarise or get to the point of a discussion.
162. 夜中 よなか Midnight; the middle of the night; late at night. Refers to the deep nighttime hours.
163. 余分 よぶん Extra; surplus; excess. Describes something beyond what is needed.
164. 楽 らく Easy; comfortable; relaxed. Describes a state of ease or lack of difficulty.
165. 陸 りく Land; shore; dry ground. Refers to solid ground as opposed to sea or air.
166. 利口 りこう Clever; smart; bright. Describes someone who is quick-witted and makes good judgements.
167. わがまま わがまま Selfish; spoiled; wilful. Describes someone who insists on having their own way.
168. わざと わざと On purpose; deliberately; intentionally. Indicates an action was done with conscious intent.
169. 粋 いき Chic; stylish; refined. Describes an understated elegance rooted in Edo-period aesthetics.
170. 依然 いぜん Still; as yet; as before. Indicates a situation remains unchanged despite expectations.
171. 全員 ぜんいん All members; everyone. Refers to every person in a particular group without exception.
172. 先日 せんじつ The other day; a few days ago. A polite way to refer to a recent past event.
173. 全体 ぜんたい Whole; entirety; overall. Refers to the complete scope of something, or used as an adverb meaning 'on earth' in questions.
174. そっくり そっくり The spitting image of; exactly alike. Also means entirely or completely when referring to amounts or transfers.
175. そっと そっと Softly; gently; quietly. Describes doing something with care so as not to be noticed or to disturb.
176. その上 そのうえ In addition; furthermore; moreover. A conjunction that adds information, often escalating the point.
177. そのうち そのうち Before long; eventually; sooner or later. Expresses that something will happen at an unspecified time in the near future.
178. そのまま そのまま As it is; without change; just like that. Describes maintaining a current state or condition.
179. 粗末 そまつ Humble; crude; poor quality. Describes something simple, rough, or inadequately made.
180. それぞれ それぞれ Each; every; respectively. Refers to individual items or people within a group, considered separately.
181. 平ら たいら Flat; level; smooth. Describes a surface without bumps, slopes, or irregularities.
182. 多少 たしょう A little; somewhat; to some extent. Similar to 少し but slightly more formal.
183. 直ちに ただちに At once; immediately; right away. A formal adverb indicating prompt action without delay.
184. たっぷり たっぷり Plenty; ample; a generous amount. Describes having more than enough of something.
185. 度々 たびたび Often; repeatedly; frequently. Indicates something happening many times.
186. たまたま たまたま By chance; coincidentally; accidentally. Describes something that happened unexpectedly or without planning.
187. たまらない たまらない Unbearable; intolerable; irresistible. Expresses that something is too intense to endure, whether positive or negative.
188. 単純 たんじゅん Simple; uncomplicated; naive. Describes something straightforward or lacking complexity.
189. 単に たんに Simply; merely; only. Limits the scope of a statement to exclude broader interpretations.
190. 違いない ちがいない No doubt; certainly; must be. An expression of strong conviction that something is true.
191. 近頃 ちかごろ Lately; recently; nowadays. Refers to the current period or recent times.
192. 直接 ちょくせつ Direct; immediate; firsthand. Describes doing something without intermediaries or going through something directly.
193. 次々 つぎつぎ In succession; one after another; one by one. Describes events or actions occurring in rapid sequence.
194. 常に つねに Always; constantly; at all times. A formal equivalent of いつも, used in written and official contexts.
195. 罪 つみ Crime; sin; fault; guilt. Refers to both legal offences and moral wrongdoing.
196. 適度 てきど Moderate; appropriate degree; just right. Describes an amount or level that is neither too much nor too little.
197. 同一 どういつ Identical; the same; one and the same. Used to indicate complete sameness between two things.
198. 当時 とうじ At that time; in those days. Refers to a specific period in the past being discussed.
199. どうしても どうしても No matter what; at any cost; by all means. Expresses strong determination or an unavoidable situation.
200. 同様 どうよう Same; identical; similar. Indicates that something is the same kind or manner as another.
201. 得意 とくい Good at; skilled in; proud; triumphant. Describes proficiency in something or a feeling of pride.
202. 独特 どくとく Unique; distinctive; peculiar. Describes a quality that belongs only to a particular person or thing.
203. どこか どこか Somewhere; anywhere; some place. An indefinite pronoun for unspecified locations.
204. 途端 とたん The moment; just as; as soon as. Indicates something happens immediately after another action.
205. とにかく とにかく Anyway; anyhow; at any rate. Used to set aside details and focus on the main point.
206. 共に ともに Together with; along with; both. Indicates shared action or simultaneous occurrence.
207. とんでもない とんでもない Outrageous; unthinkable; absurd. Also used as a humble denial meaning 'not at all' or 'no way.'
208. どんなに どんなに How much; no matter how. Used to emphasise degree, often with ～ても to express 'no matter how much.'
209. なんで なんで Why; what for; how come. A casual interrogative adverb asking for the reason behind something.
210. 苦手 にがて Poor at; weak in; not good with. Describes a lack of skill or a dislike for something.
211. 日中 にっちゅう During the day; daytime; in broad daylight. Refers to the hours when the sun is up.
212. 年間 ねんかん During the year; yearly; annual. Used to indicate a span of one or more years.
213. 激しい はげしい Intense; violent; fierce; severe. Describes extreme force, emotion, or degree.
214. ばったり ばったり By chance; unexpectedly; with a thud. Describes a chance encounter or sudden collapse.
215. 派手 はで Showy; flashy; gaudy; flamboyant. Describes something eye-catching or extravagant.
216. ハンサム ハンサム Handsome; good-looking. Used to describe an attractive man with refined features.
217. 必死 ひっし Desperate; frantic; with all one's might. Describes putting every ounce of effort into something.
218. 等しい ひとしい Equal; equivalent; the same. Describes two things being identical in value, degree, or status.
219. 一人一人 ひとりひとり One by one; each person; every individual. Emphasises treating people as separate individuals.
220. 不安 ふあん Anxiety; uneasiness; worry. A feeling of insecurity or apprehension about something uncertain.
221. 不可 ふか Impossible; unacceptable; not allowed. Indicates something cannot or should not be done.
222. 無事 ぶじ Safety; peace; without incident. Describes arriving or completing something without problems.
223. 不思議 ふしぎ Mysterious; strange; wondrous. Describes something puzzling or beyond ordinary explanation.
224. 不正 ふせい Injustice; unfairness; fraud. Describes dishonest or wrongful conduct.
225. 再び ふたたび Again; once more; a second time. Expresses the repetition of an action or event.
226. ふと ふと Suddenly; by chance; unexpectedly. Describes something happening without planning or intention.
227. 不平 ふへい Complaint; discontent; dissatisfaction. A feeling of unfairness or grievance.
228. 別に べつに Not particularly; nothing special; not really. Used with negatives to downplay or dismiss something.
229. まあ まあ Well; I suppose; more or less. A filler expressing hesitation, modesty, or mild surprise.
230. まさに まさに Exactly; precisely; truly. Emphasises that something is exactly as described.
231. 真っ赤 まっか Deep red; bright crimson; flushed. Describes an intense, vivid red colour or a completely flushed face.
232. 全く まったく Completely; entirely; really; truly. Expresses totality or strong emphasis.
233. まぶしい まぶしい Dazzling; blinding; radiant. Describes light so bright it is hard to look at.
234. 申告 しんこく Report; declaration; filing. A formal report or statement submitted to authorities.
235. 精巧 せいこう Elaborate; exquisite; finely crafted. Describes something made with remarkable precision and skill.
236. 当然 とうぜん Obvious; natural; as a matter of course. Describes something that is expected or goes without saying.
237. 前もって まえもって In advance; beforehand; previously. Describes doing something ahead of time as preparation.