In this use, the ta-form can be replaced with the 〜ている[...teiru](...ing) form:
やせている犬
yaseteiru inu
skinny dog
壊れているおもちゃ
kowareteiru omocha
broken toy
Japanese Articles
What are some ways to describe Japanese nouns without using traditional adjectives?
By: Mayumi Ito Tue Jun 09 2026
An adjective is a word like “blue” or “sleepy” that is generally used to describe or modify a . Sometimes, though, it’s possible to use a word that usually has some other function to modify a noun as well. For example, the English word “dinner” is a noun, but you can sometimes use it sort of like an adjective, in expressions like “dinner bell” or “dinner table.”
In this post, we’ll introduce you to some ways that you can use nouns, verbs, adverbs, and other kinds of words to modify nouns in Japanese. In particular, we’ll address how to use the ta-form of verbs and how to combine words with the particle の[no].
How to use the ta-form of verbs like adjectives?
You can use the ta-form of some verbs for changes of state to describe a noun that has undergone that change-of-state. Here are some examples:
Verb (dictionary form) | ta-form + noun |
|---|---|
やせる yaseru to lose weight | やせた犬 yaseta inu skinny dog |
太る futoru to gain weight | 太った熊 futotta kuma fat bear |
とがる togaru to become sharp | とがった鉛筆 togatta enpitsu sharpened pencil |
壊れる kowareru to break; fall apart | 壊れたおもちゃ kowareta omocha broken toy |
Here are some examples of how this looks in a sentence.
ta-formnoun
やせた犬が道を横切った。
Yaseta inu ga michi o yokogitta.
A skinny dog crossed the road.
隣のおじさんが壊れたおもちゃを修理してくれた。
Tonari no ojisan ga kowareta omocha o shūri shite kureta.
The man next door kindly repaired the broken toy (for me).
Important
How to use the particle の [no] to describe Japanese nouns?
In Japanese, the particle の[no] can sometimes follow a word that is not an adjective to create a phrase that does describe a noun. Let’s have a look at when to use の[no] after nouns, adverbs, and even some na-adjectives!
Noun + の [no]
You can use a + の[no] to modify another noun. Just put the noun + の directly before the noun you’re describing. Let’s look at some examples!
describing noun + の + noun | |
|---|---|
金の指輪 kin no yubiwa | gold ring |
カラーの写真 karā no shashin | color photo |
病気の人 byōki no hito | sick person |
緑の丘 midori no oka | green hill |
Here are some examples of what these look like in sentences:
describing nounの [no]described noun
砂浜で金の指輪を見つけた。
Sunahama de kin no yubiwa o mitsuketa.
I found a gold ring on the sandy beach.
病気の人はプールで泳いではいけません。
Byōki no hito wa pūru de oyoide wa ikemasen.
Sick people must not swim in the pool.
Adverb + の [no]
You can also use an + の[no] to create a phrase that acts like an adjective. Here are some examples:
adverb | adverb + の + noun |
|---|---|
少し sukoshi a little | 少しのパン sukoshi no pan a small amount of bread |
もっぱら moppara mostly | もっぱらのうわさ moppara no uwasa widely-supported rumor |
ふわふわ fuwafuwa fluffily | ふわふわの枕 fuwafuwa no makura fluffy pillow |
くねくね kunekune windingly | くねくねの道 kunekune no michi winding road |
Here are some examples in sentences:
adverbの [no]described noun
山本先生は来年結婚するらしいともっぱらのうわさだ。
Yamamoto sensei wa rainen kekkon suru rashii to moppara no uwasa da.
It’s widely rumored that Professor Yamamoto is getting married next year.
ふわふわの枕はあまり体によくないよ。
Fuwafuwa no makura wa amari karada ni yokunai yo.
A fluffy pillow is not very good for your body, you know.
Important
Adverbs such as ふわふわ[fuwafuwa] and くねくね[kunekune] are mimetic words (i.e., expressions that describe a state or movement of something). Some of them, including ふわふわ, also work as na-adjectives. We can, therefore, say ふわふわな枕[fuwafuwana makura] as well as ふわふわの枕[fuwafuwa no makura]. They basically mean the same, but to many native ears, ふわふわの probably sounds a little more natural than the na-adjective version.
Na-adjectives + の [no]
Some na-adjectives can be combined with の[no] before a noun instead of な[na]. Though combining them with な[na] is still allowed, with these adjectives, you have a choice: な[na] or の[no].
na-adjective + な | na-adjective + の |
|---|---|
✅ 彼は懸命な努力を続けた。 Kare wa kenmeina doryoku o tsuzuketa. He continued his earnest efforts. | ✅ 彼は懸命の努力を続けた。 Kare wa kenmei no doryoku o tsuzuketa. He continued his earnest efforts. |
✅ パーティーに一番上等な服を着て行った。 Pātii ni wa ichiban jōtōna fuku o kite itta. I wore my best clothes to the party. | ✅ パーティーに一番上等の服を着て行った。 Pātii ni wa ichiban jōtō no fuku o kite itta. I wore my best clothes to the party. |
However, not all na-adjectives should be used with の[no]. Some are used pretty exclusively with な[na]. For example:
Used with either な or の | |
|---|---|
懸命[kenmei] | earnest, all-out |
緊急[kinkyū] | urgent |
上等[jōtō] | fine, superior |
当然[tōzen] | natural, understandable |
高度[kōdo] | advanced |
無口[mukuchi] | reticent, tight-lipped |
底抜け[sokonuke] | bottomless, total |
Only used with な | |
|---|---|
静か[shizuka] | quiet |
好き[suki] | to like, favorite |
すてき[suteki] | lovely, nice |
嫌[iya] | unpleasant |
有名[yūmei] | famous |
便利[benri] | convenient |
ユニーク[yuniiku] | unusual |
Which na-adjectives can take の [no]?
There are, unfortunately, no clear-cut rules to determine which na-adjectives can be used with の[no] instead of な[na]. Very broadly, you can follow this generalization:
Kango (Chinese-origin) stems can be used with の[no] or な[na].
Wago (Japanese-origin) and gairaigo (foreign-origin) stems are generally used with な[na].
However there are many exceptions to this trend. For example:
The kango-based words 有名[yūmei](famous) and 便利[benri](convenient) generally take な.
The wago-based word 底抜け[sokonuke](bottomless; total) can take either の or な.
Ultimately, whether or not a na-adjective can be used with の[no] is just something you’ll have to remember, and even when both are used, one might sound more natural than another to native speakers.
Did you know?
There are also a group of words that almost always take の[no] before nouns but which are conjugated like na-adjectives in an adjective sentence? Some scholars call them “the third adjectives” or “no-adjectives.”
の-adjectives | |
|---|---|
本当の話[hontō no hanashi] | a true story |
最大の努力[saidai no doryoku] | maximal efforts |
抜群の成績[batsugun no seiseki] | outstanding grades |
普通の人[futsū no hito] | ordinary people |
別の車[betsu no kuruma] | another car |
To sum up
In this article, we have explored various types of expressions that modify nouns, like adjectives. Here’s what you should remember:
The ta-form of a change-of-state verb can describe a noun that undergoes that change of state.
A noun + の or adverb + の can describe a noun.
When they come before a noun, some na-adjectives can optionally be followed by の instead of な.
Ready to practice? Check out our Japanese noun-modifier activities to test your skills! Happy learning!
