Order of Adjectives
Table of Contents
1. Order of Adjectives
2. The Meanings of “いい” and “親切“
3. Key Points for Connecting Adjectives
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: “ゆみさんは親切で、いい人です” sounds natural, but I was told that “ゆみさんはよくて、親切な人です” is unnatural. Why?
A: It has to do with the meaning scope and the way adjectives are connected. “いい” has a broad meaning, so it is more natural to place the more specific “親切” first and say “親切で、いい人“.
The Meanings of “いい” and “親切“
First, let’s examine the meanings of these words.
“いい” is an adjective that can be used not only for people but also for objects, tastes, and a wide range of subjects.
When describing physical objects, the meaning of “いい” is more specific. However, when referring to people, a more detailed explanation is necessary.
[Examples]
ゆみさんはいい人です。
Yumi is a good person.
ゆみさんは体調がいいです。
Yumi is in good condition.
⇒ It is necessary to specify what about Yumi is “good.”
このパソコンはとてもいいです。
This computer is very good.
⇒ It refers to the computer’s performance or functionality.
この味はちょうどいいです。
This taste is just right.
⇒ It describes the taste.
On the other hand, “親切” is only used to describe people and cannot be used for objects.
[Examples]
〇 先生はとても親切です。
The teacher is very kind.
× このパソコンはとても親切です。
This computer is very kind.
In this way, “いい” has a broad range of usage, while “親切” is limited to describing people.
Key Points for Connecting Adjectives
From the previous explanation, in the sentence “ゆみさんはよくて、親切な人です”, the meaning of “いい” is vague, making it unclear what is “good.” Since “いい” has a broad meaning, directly connecting it to a specific word can sound unnatural.
Therefore, when connecting adjectives, it is more natural to place the more specific adjective first and the broader adjective later in the sentence.
[Examples]
〇 ゆみさんは親切で、いい人です。
Yumi is kind and a good person.
⇒ Placing the more specific “kind” first and the broader “good person” later creates a more natural expression.
× ゆみさんはよくて、親切な人です。
Yumi is good and a kind person.
⇒ Since “good” has a broad meaning, placing the more specific “kind person” after it sounds unnatural.
Let’s Compare
Which Expression is Correct in These Cases?
[Example ①]
彼はかっこよくて背が高いです。
彼はかっこよくて高いです。
[Example ②]
たろうくんは悪くてうそつきです。
たろうくんはうそつきで悪い子です。
Correct Answers:
① 彼はかっこよくて背が高いです。
He is handsome and tall.
② たろうくんはうそつきで悪い子です。
Taro is a liar and a bad kid.
Not only “いい”, but also adjectives with broad meanings like “高い⇔低い” (tall ⇔ short), “良い⇔悪い” (good ⇔ bad), and “多い⇔少ない” (many ⇔ few) are naturally placed later in the sentence. Additionally, these adjectives need to be supplemented with specific words that clarify their reference.
Summary
- Adjectives should be connected from those with specific meanings to those with broader meanings.
- Adjectives with a broad meaning need to be supplemented with specific words that clarify their reference.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. おもしろくて、いい人です
父はおもしろくて、いい人です。
My father is funny and a good person.
*”いい” has a broad meaning, so it is placed last and used with a specific noun (person).
A. 背が低くてかわいい人です
鈴木さんは背が低くてかわいい人です。
Mr. Suzuki is short and a cute person.
*”低い” has a broad meaning, so it is used with a specific noun (height).
A. きれいでいいところ
横浜はきれいでいいところです。
Yokohama is beautiful and a nice place.
*”いい” has a broad meaning, so it is placed last and used with a specific noun (place).
A. にぎやかで人が多いです
東京はにぎやかで人が多いです。
Tokyo is lively and has many people.
*”多い” has a broad meaning, so it is placed last and used with a specific noun (people).
Similar Articles
- Must-Know for Foreigners Working in Japan: Do You Really Need a Hanko (Personal Seal)?
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English②
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English①
- Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
- Idioms Using “頭” ② – Useful in Everyday Conversations
