Shiku-type adjectives

     Adjectives classified as “shiku-type” in Classical Japanese correspond to Modern Japanese –shii adjectives. That is, the Modern Japanese verb “utsukushii” (“beautiful”) is the Classical form is “utsukushi.”

     The sample adjective in the paradigm below is “tanoshi” (= pleasant, fun, enjoyable).

Stem Form	Ending	Paradigm	Example
Mizenkei	–shikara / –shiku	tanoshika–	tanoshikarazu (is not fun)
Ren’yôkei	–shikari / –shiku	tanoshikari–	tanoshikaritari (was fun)
Shûshikei	–shi	tanoshi	tanoshi (is fun)
Rentaikei	–shiki /–shikaru	tanoshiki	tanoshiki hito (a fun person)
Izenkei	–shikere	tanoshikere–	tanoshikeredomo (although it is fun…)
Meireikei	–shikare	tanoshikare	tanoshikare! (be fun!)

Ku-type adjectives

     Adjectives classified as “ku-type” in CJ correspond to MJ –i adjectives. That is, the MJ verb “takai” (= tall, high) in its CJ form is “takashi”; the Modern “atsui” (= hot) is the CJ atsushi; the MJ “wakai” (= young) is the CJ “wakashi”; etc.

     The sample adjective in the paradigm below is “atsushi” (= hot).

Stem Form	Ending	Paradigm	Example
Mizenkei	–kara / –ku	atsukara–	atsukarazu (is not hot)
Ren’yôkei	–kari / –ku	atsukari–	atsukaritari (was hot)
Shûshikei	–shi	atsushi	atsushi (is hot)
Rentaikei	–ki /–karu	atsuki	atsuki hito (a hot day)
Izenkei	–kere	atsukere–	atsukeredomo (although it is hot…)
Meireikei	–kare	atsukare	atsukare! (be hot!)

 

Keiyô-dôshi (Na-type adjectives)

     There is an aditional adjective form, corresponding to the Modern Japanese “na-type adjective” (e.g., shizuka [quiet], which forms the apposative with the addition of "na", as in “shizuka na hito”= “a quiet person”). In fact, this form is a nominal with the addition of the copulative nari (“ni ari”) and there are very many adjectives in this category.

     They may also appear under “–tari” instead of “–nari” (declining identically, with only a substitution of T for N), with the implication that “–tari” is a temporary state and “-nari” is the default. (See the section on copulas for more details.)

     The sample adjective in the paradigm below is “atenari” (= exalted).

Stem Form	Ending	Paradigm	Example
Mizenkei	–nara	atenara–	atenarazu (is not exalted)
Ren’yôkei	–nari / –ni	atenari–	atenaritari (was exalted)
Shûshikei	–nari	atenari	atenari (is exalted)
Rentaikei	–naru	atenaru	atenaru hito (an exalted person)
Izenkei	–nare	atenare–	atenaredomo (although he is exalted…)
Meireikei	–nare	atenare	atenare! (be exalted!)