Here is Part three of Japanese adjectives in Sentences. Good luck and please leave comments if you have any questions. You can also find links to part 1 and 2 at the bottom of this post.

21    最近暑い日が続いていますね。
さいきんあついひがつづいていますね。
It’s been continuously hot lately.
*続く＝continue

22    北海道の夏は涼しいです。
ほっかいどうのなつはすずしいです。
Summer in Hokkaido is cool.

23    寒い冬に鍋は最高です。
さむいふゆにはなべはさいこうです。
There is nothing better than a hot pot in cold winter.
* 鍋= hot pot    It’s a common winter food that has various vegetables and meats boiled in a pot with soup.

24    ごはんは熱いうちに食べて下さい。
ごはんはあついうちにたべてください。
Please eat your meal while it’s still hot.
* ください is used with a verb in polite sentences.

26    暑い日には冷たい物が食べたい。
あついひにひはつめたいものがたべたい。
I want to eat something cold on a hot day.

27    いつまでも若くいたい。
いつまでもわかくいたい。
I want to be young as long as possible.

28    この遊園地はとても広い。
このゆうえんちはとてもひろい。
This amusement park is very big.
*The meaning of 広い is spacious or wide

29    狭い所ですみませんが、お上がり下さい。
せまいところですみませんが、おあがりください。
Sorry for the small space, but please come on in.
* This is often said when having somebody over to a house.
* 上がる＝In this sentence, it means “ come on in (the house)”

30    彼は重い荷物を持って旅行にでかけました。
かれはおもいにもつをもってりょこうにでかけました。
He left for his trip carrying heavy luggage.

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2

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Here is Part 2 of Japanese adjectives used in sentences. We should have the next 10 up by tomorrow. In case you missed the first10, you can find them here: Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1. Please leave comments if you have any questions.

11    帰りが遅くなる。
かえりがおそくなる。
I’ll come home late.

12    新宿駅はうちから遠い。
しんじゅくえきはうちからとおい。
Shinjuku Station is far from my house.
* うち＝casual way to say my house or home

13    近くのコンビニに行ってくるね。
ちかくのコンビニにいってくるね。
I’m going to go to the close convenience store.
* Convenience store = コンビニ (a shorten version of コンビニエンスストア)

14    あの人の話はいつも長い。
あのひとのはなしはいつもながい。
That person always talks for a long time.

15    髪を短く切りたい。
かみをみじかくきりたい。
I want to cut my hair short.
* If adjective is to modify a verb, the last letter い will change into く.

16    このジーパンはきつすぎる。
This pair of jeans is too tight.
*  〜すぎる= too (adjective)  When using with すぎる, the last letter い disappears.

17    暗い部屋でテレビをみるな。
くらいへやでテレビをみるな。
Don’t watch TV in a dark room.

18    外はまだ明るい。
そとはまだあかるい。
It’s still bright outside.

19    この木の幹はとても太い。
このきのみきはとてもふとい。
This tree’s trunk is very thick.

20    そうめんはうどんより細いです。
そうめんはうどんよりほそいです。
Soumen Noodles are thinner than Udon Noodles.
* です is used for polite conversations.

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Without description words (aka adjectives) it is very difficult to carry on a conversation or make any kind of point in Japanese. Adjectives (形容詞- けいようし) allow you to explain your feelings, your mood, size, shape, light, dark, temperature, and a lot more. The more Japanese adjectives you are comfortable with, the easier it will be to convey your thoughts, making your conversations in Japanese much easier.

We have put together a list of nearly 100 Japanese adjectives, including both “i” adjectives and “na” adjectives. Please study these words and get to know them well, as you will hear them very often in everyday speech.

Since it is important to learn words in context, we will also be posting sample sentences using the listed adjectives. You may want to sign up to our RSS feed to make sure you don’t miss them.

The list is also available for download for members. If you aren’t already a member, you can become one now by signing up for the free newsletter here.

Update: After reading through this list, you can find the first 10 words used in sentences here: Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1.

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慣用句（かんようく）

Today, I want to show you a couple of very common Japanese idiomatic phrases (慣用句）.  Japanese people use them quite often in conversations, but for those who are just learning Japanese it can be hard to understand. In fact, I had never heard the phrase “a piece of cake” until I actually lived in the states.

1. 揚げ足をとる　(あげあしをとる, age ashi wo toru)
To grab a flying foot. In Judo, getting opponent’s foot up in the air is used to make them fall on the ground.
Meaning: To jump on someone’s mistakes

2. 頭に来る　(あたまにくる, atama ni kuru)
Coming towards the head.
Meaning: To get upset or angry

3. 会わせる顔がない　(あわせるかおがない, awaseru kao ga nai)
No face to show
Meaning: Too ashamed to meet someone

4. 肩の荷が下りる　(かたのにがおりる, kata no ni ga oriru)
Take the load off your shoulders
Meaning: To feel relaxed by being free from obligation or responsibility

5. 体を張る　(からだをはる, karada wo haru)
Holding your body tightly
Meaning: To do something as if it is for your life

6. 口が軽い　(くちがかるい, kuchi ga karui)
A light mouth.
Meaning: To be too talkative and unable to keep a secret

7. 小耳に挟む　(こみみにはさむ, komimi ni hasamu)
Putting between little ears
Meaning: To hear a little bit about something from somebody

8. 手を抜く　(てをぬく, te wo nuku)
Pulling a hand out
Meaning: To do a sloppy job

9. 長い目で見る　(ながいめでみる, nagai me de miru)
Looking with long eyes
Meaning: To look after things for a long time

10. のどから手が出る　(のどからてがでる, nodo kara te ga deru)
A hand comes out of your mouth
Meaning: desperately wanting something

This list of Japanese idioms all involve a part of the body. Keep checking back as I will be listing more Japanese idioms in later posts.

You can also subscribe to the Japanese Words Feed here.

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The brains ability to tune out various sounds and distractions is very helpful when you are trying to focus on something. However, it becomes a problem when your brain tunes out the thing you are trying to focus on. When it comes to learning Japanese, your brain can be quite lazy. Training your brain to recognize Japanese (rather than ignore it) will help you learn Japanese quicker.

Choose Interesting Materials

Learning a language should be fun. Learning Japanese is not an exception. One of the easiest ways to make learning Japanese easier is to choose materials that you are interested in. This works well because the part of your brain that views learning Japanese as work and wants to tune it out is overridden by the part that is interested in the chosen topic.

I am very interested in cars. So while it can be difficult for me to focus on an outdated Japanese greetings video, I have no problem gluing myself to the screen to watch Japanese TV shows about cars. I will also watch it again and again to make sure I understand. Not just because I want to learn Japanese, but also because I want to see the car videos again.

It is important that you study all of the most common Japanese words and phrases, but I have never really found this to be a problem when using “topical” Japanese when studying.  You will still learn the basics, as well as the special words used within your field of interest. Choose topics that interest you and learning Japanese seems a lot more fun. Tim Ferris of The 4 Hour Work Week, who speaks several languages, gives also uses this method when learning languages.

Repetitive Focus Sessions

This method is a little harder and feels more like work, but quite useful. When you first start learning Japanese your brain doesn’t immediately recognize Japanese words and tunes them out (even though you may understand). By completely focusing your attention on listening you will realize that you can actually understand. As you do this repeatedly, you start to hear words and recognize meanings rather than just sounds. Each time you understand is like a light bulb going off inside your head. That feeling is quite rewarding.

Intensively focusing can be quite tiring, so I recommend that you do this in short sessions. Practice for a bit and then take a break. However, like anything, the more time you spend with the material the easier it gets.

I am currently learning to play the sanshin, a traditional 3 string instrument of Okinawa. I am also learning to sing traditional folk songs of Miyakojima宮古民謡（みやこみんよう）. Since Miyako”go”, or Japanese spoken in Miyako is so different and unrecognizable (even to native Japanese) this is the method I use to learn the words. It’s kind of like learning to sing in another language without understanding the language…at all. When I listen to the songs my brain wants to focus on other things. So I have to “train” my brain to pay attention by really focusing. Eventually my mind starts focusing on the words rather than tuning them out. It just takes a little bit of time.

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