Comparing things. Lesson 12 introduces adjectives for comparison — fast, slow, easy, difficult, cheap, expensive — and the sentence patterns that let you say which of two things is bigger, better, or more convenient.

You first met adjectives in Lesson 8 — now you'll use them to compare and choose between options.

These words come from Minna no Nihongo, one of the most widely used Japanese textbooks for beginners. Each word here includes furigana readings, English meanings, example sentences, and native audio to help you review and practice alongside the textbook.

How to use this page

Every kanji in the word column is tappable — it opens a page showing every word that shares that character, so you can start noticing patterns across lessons. Tap a word's romaji or meaning to see example sentences where related vocabulary is linked for easy cross-reference.

You can switch between four Japanese voices (two male, two female) using the speaker button at the bottom of the screen, and change the Japanese font from the navigation bar to get comfortable reading different typefaces.

WordRomajiMeaningAudio
(かん)(たん)[な]kantan [na]easy, simple
(ちか)chikainear
(とお)tōifar
(はや)い、早いhayaifast, early
(おそ)osoislow, late
(おお)い[(ひと)が~]ōi [hitoga~]many [people], much
(すく)ない[(ひと)が~]sukunai [hitoga~]few [people], a little
(あたた)かい、温かいatatakaiwarm
(すず)しいsuzushiicool
(あま)amaisweet
(から)karaihot (taste), spicy
(おも)omoiheavy
(かる)karuilight (of weight)
いい[コーヒーが~]ii [kōhiiga~]prefer [coffee]
(きせ)()kisetsuseason
(はる)haruspring
(なつ)natsusummer
(あき)akiautumn, fall
(ふゆ)fuyuwinter
(てん)()tenkiweather
(あめ)amerain, rainy
(ゆき)yukisnow, snowy
(くも)kumoricloudy
ホテルhoteruhotel
(くう)(こう)kūkōairport
(うみ)umisea, ocean
(せか)()sekaiworld
パーティーpāteiiparty (~を します : give a party)
[お](まつ)[o] matsurifestival
すき()sukiyakisukiyaki (beef and vegetables hot pot)
(さし)()sashimisashimi (sliced raw fish)
[お]すし[o] sushisushi (vinegared rice topped with raw fish)
てんぷらtenpuratempura (seafood and vegetables deep fried in batter)
(ぶた)(にく)butanikupork
とり(にく)torinikuchicken
(ぎゅう)(にく)gyūnikubeef
レモンremonlemon
()(ばな)ikebanaflower arrangement (~を します : practise flower arrangement)
(もみ)()momijimaple, red leaves of autumn
どちらdochirawhich one (of two things)
どちらもdochiramoboth
いちばんichibanthe most
ずっとzuttoby far
(はじ)めてhajimetefor the first time
ただいま。tadaima.I'm home.
(かえ)りなさい。okaerinasai.Welcome home
わあ、すごい (ひと)ですね。wā, sugoi hitodesune.Wow! Look at all those people!
(つか)れました。tsukaremashita.I'm tired
(ぎお)(んま)(つり)gionmatsurithe Gion Festival (the most famous festival in Kyoto)
(ホン)(コン)honkonHong Kong (香港)
シンガポールshingapōruSingapore
ABC ストアABC sutoaa fictitious supermarket
ジャパンjapana fictitious supermarket
(しけ)()shikenexamination