Adjectival expressions (like adjectives proper, which are one type of adjec- tival expression), describe properties or qualities ‘what sort/kind of’. As seen below, adjectival expressions include word classes like nouns, pro- nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc., that function like adjectives, i.e. describe or modify a noun that follows.
6.6.1 Specialized noun-modifying words
6.6.1.1 Noun-modifying demonstrative pronouns and question words
Demonstrative words and pronouns include words like kono ‘this’, sonna
‘that kind of’. Q-words include dono ‘which?’, donna ‘what kind of?’, etc.
(for details see 5.1, 5.2).
6.6.1.2 Other specialized noun-modifying words (arayuru, iwayuru, saru, etc.)
There is a small number of other specialized N-modifying words (arayuru
‘every possible’, iwayuru ‘so-called’, saru ‘the past’, onaji ‘the same’;
note especially the use of onaji where English would use ‘alike’, ‘like’
(example c).
a 私たちはあらゆる問題を話し合った。
Watashi-tachi wa arayuru mondai o hanashiatta.
We talked about all possible problems.
b 同じ年の夫とは三年前に知り合った。
Onaji toshi no otto to wa sannen mae ni shiriatta.
She met her husband, who is the same age, three years ago.
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D
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c どうやら同じ島国でも、英国人のような紅茶好き、というわけに はいかないようだ。
Dnyara onaji shimaguni de mo, eikokujin no yn na kncha-zuki, to iu wake ni wa ikanai yn da.
It appears that even though [we’re] an island nation like the UK, we are not as fond of black tea as the British.
Note – onaji has other uses too, such as predicate + copula (example d).
d 経済はだれがやっても同じでしょ。
Keizai wa dare ga yatte mo onaji desho.
The economy should be the same, no matter who runs it [= the country].
6.6.2 Noun (including number + counter/pronoun) no noun 6.6.2.1 Noun 1 no noun 2
N1 includes N of time (see 1.7). The [N1 no N2] combinations (= NPs) often, but not always, translate into English as ‘N2 of N1’ (see 2.3).
a 最近の若者 b ここの家の主人 saikin no wakamono koko no ie no shujin
the young of recent times the master/husband of this house c 日本の政治 d 日本のカメラ
Nihon no seiji Nihon no kamera
Japanese politics a Japanese camera
(lit. “Japan’s politics”)
6.6.2.2 Personal pronoun no noun
Depending on the pronoun, personal pronoun no N translates into English as ‘my/your/his/her/our/their N’. But see 1.4 for differences in use of per- sonal pronouns compared to English.
a 私の仕事 b あなたの車
watashi no shigoto anata no kuruma
my job your car
=
mmmmml163 Adjectival expressions:
noun-modifying 6.6.2.3 Number + counter no noun
Number + counter no is used to modify nouns that require a specific counter, whereas those that lack a specific counter use the ‘default’ counter -tsu (number + no). Note that a number can also occur after the noun it refers to, as in example b, where the structure is N + number + counter no N (see 4).
a 一つの地域 b レンズ一枚の価格
hitotsu no chiiki renzu ichi-mai no kakaku
one area The price of one lens
6.6.3 Adverb/adverbial clause no noun 6.6.3.1 Adverb-te no noun
These include a number of adverbs ending in -te, such as subete ‘all’, hajimete
‘for the first time’, katsute ‘formerly’ (see 10.1.5.1). Example c contains an adverbial clause (umarete hajimete ‘for the first time since being born’).
a すべての規制 subete no kisei all restrictions
c 生まれてはじめての体験だった。
Umarete hajimete no taiken datta.
It was [my] first experience ever (lit. “in my life”).
6.6.3.2 Noun + phrasal particle-te no noun
Phrasal particles are often equivalent to prepositions in English (see 3).
Note – most, but not all, phrasal particles can take no (examples a and b).
a 選手としての経歴はすごい。
Senshu to shite no keireki wa sugoi.
His career as a player is formidable.
b このことについての大臣の考えは。
Kono koto ni tsuite no daijin no kangae wa.
What are your [= the minister’s] thoughts on this matter?
b はじめての住居 hajimete no jokyo my first house
mmmmml
164 6
Adjectives 6.6.3.3 Clause-te no noun: adverbial clause modifying noun
Here, an adverbial clause ending in the conjunctive form -te (underlined) modifies a following noun (or NP) by means of no. The noun/NP implies an action, and S-te indicates ‘how’ or ‘in what state/condition’, etc. the action takes place. Check the idiomatic translations (also underlined) below.
a お客さんあっての商売。
Okyaku-san atte no shnbai.
Business [is something that] depends on the existence of customers (= no business without customers).
b ザックを背負ってのベトナムひとり旅。
Zakku o seotte no betonamu hitori-tabi.
A solitary trip through Vietnam, shouldering a rucksack.
c それでも豊かさを求めての逃走は続〱。
Sore demo yutakasa o motomete no tnsn wa tsuzuku.
But nevertheless the flight in pursuit of affluence continues.
d 三十歳を目前にしての決意である。
Sanjussai o mokuzen ni shite no ketsui de aru.
It’s a decision [made] with age 30 just around the corner.
6.6.3.4 Adjective-stem no noun: nku no, chikaku no, etc.
The stem form of adjectives, ending in -ku, can be used with a following no to modify a noun. However, this is possible with only a very small number of adjectives, such as ii ‘many’, chikai ‘near’, tii ‘far’ (see 6.1.1.1.4).
a 過熱するカメラブームで、多〱の機種が登場した。
Kanetsu suru kamera bomu de, nku no kishu ga tnjn shita.
In the overheating camera boom, many new models have appeared.
6.6.4 Adjectives proper + noun
Adjectives proper always end in -i in their plain non-past form, which is also used to modify nouns (this is also the form under which they are listed in dictionaries).
a 古い家屋 b 新しい体験
furui kaoku atarashii taiken
old houses/an old house a new experience
165 Adjectival expressions:
noun-modifying 6.6.5 na-adjective na noun
6.6.5.1 Unconverted na-adjective na noun
na-adjectives require the noun-modifying form na of the copula (see 7.5).
a 静かな朝 b 柔軟な発想 shizuka na asa jonan na hassn a quiet morning a flexible way of thinking
6.6.5.2 Converted na-adj na noun
The suffix -teki converts a noun (often a two-kanji compound) into a na- adjective, which then modifies a noun in the same way as other adjectival nouns, i.e. by attaching na (see 6.9.1).
a 精神的な強さ (cf., 精神 ‘mind’) seishin-teki na tsuyosa mental strength
b 理想的な男性 (cf., 理想 ‘an ideal’) risn-teki na dansei
an/the ideal male
Note – N-teki can also modify nouns directly, without na; the whole NP in this case is understood as a compound (examples c and d) (see 6.9.1.1.2).
c 政治的問題 d 社会的責任
seiji-teki mondai shakai-teki sekinin political problems social responsibility
6.6.6 no-adjective + noun
no-adjectives are words with adjectival meaning that behave grammatically like nouns, i.e. they modify other nouns by means of no.
The main groups of no-adjectives are those NJ colour words that are not adjectives proper (i.e. do not end in -i), and all WJ colour words, plus also a few other NJ words such as nama ‘raw’ and hadaka ‘naked’, and a select number of onomatope (see 28.3).
a 白のタキシード姿の新郎 b ピンクのフラミンゴ shiro no takishmdo sugata no shinrn pinku no furamingo the groom in a white tuxedo pink flamingoes
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c オレンジかピンクのポロシャツ d 生のキノコ orenji ka pinku no poroshatsu nama no kinoko an orange or pink polo shirt raw mushrooms e 蒸し暑い夜、上半身裸の男たちが道ばたで名物の「火鍋」をつつ〱。
Mushiatsui yoru, jnhanshin hadaka no otoko-tachi ga michibata de meibutsu no ‘hinabe’ o tsutsuku.
On a hot and humid night, men with bare torsos are eating the local speciality, firepot, by the roadside.
6.6.7 Verb/verbal noun/adverb-ta noun 6.6.7.1 Verb-ta, or verbal noun shita noun
Here, a verb or verbal noun that indicates a state in its -te iru form (as indicated in the examples below) modifies a noun by means of the -ta form (V-ta).
Note – no meaning of completion or past is present in this case (see 8.2, 22.1).
a 安定した生活 (cf., 生活が安定している seikatsu ga antei shite iru ‘life is secure’)
antei shita seikatsu a secure life
b 発達した筋肉 (cf., 筋肉が発達している kinniku ga hattatsu shite iru ‘muscles are well-developed’)
hattatsu shita kinniku well-developed muscles
c 「家々、木々、山々」と題した作品がある。(cf., 題している daishite iru ‘has the title of’)
‘Ieie, Kigi, Yamayama’ to daishita sakuhin ga aru.
There is a work entitled ‘Houses, Trees, Mountains’.
d 自立した証券会社は育たない。(cf., 自立している jiritsu shite iru
‘is independent’)
jiritsu shita shnkengaisha wa sodatanai Independent securities firms don’t thrive.
e 「子供を家庭 • 地域に帰そう」を目指した学校五日制。
(cf., 目指している mezashite iru ‘is aiming for’)
‘Kodomo o katei, chiiki ni kaesn’ o mezashita gakkn itsuka-sei/
The five-day school system, which has the aim of ‘returning the children to their homes and locality’.
167 Adjectival expressions in comparative sentences 6.6.7.2 Adverb (to) shita noun
Many onomatope adverbs (see 28.3) modify nouns by means of to shita, or just shita. But note that there are also some onomatope which modify N by means of no.
Note – despite the -ta form used, no meaning of completion or past is present with (to) shita.
a ふとしたことから寺山修司を知った。(ふと futo ‘suddenly’, ‘accidentally’) Futo shita koto kara Terayama Shoji o shitta.
By chance I got to know Terayama Shjji.
b 川床に座ると、ひんやりした風が頬をなでてい〱。(ひんやり hin’yari ‘cool’)
Kawadoko ni suwaru to, hin’yari shita kaze ga hoho o nadete iku.
When one sits down on the riverbed [platform], a cool wind caresses one’s cheeks.
6.6.8 Noun ga/no adjective/verb + noun
Some N ga/no adjective/verb combinations have adjectival meaning as lexical items. N ga adjective combinations include se ga takai ‘tall’, atama ga ii ‘intelligent’, etc., and N ga V combinations are settokuryoku ga aru
‘convincing’ and ninki ga aru ‘popular’.
In noun-modifying use, these can use either ga or no, although no is far more common.
a 背が高い女性が多〱なっているのに対応したもの。
Se ga takai josei ga nku natte iru no ni tain shita mono.
This [introducing larger sizes] is to deal with the fact that there are more tall women.
b 説得力のあるコーチになるだろう。
Settokuryoku no aru knchi ni naru darn. He should turn out to be a convincing coach.
6.7 Adjectival expressions in comparative sentences