Japanese Lesson 3-3: Antonyms

Japanese Lesson 3-3 （日本語レッソン３-３）Antonyms（対義語）

Cold, hot . . . high and low are both antonyms. Short and long are also antonyms. In this lesson, we will learn several examples of antonyms, and in the end of this lesson, we will discover how to compare items using the principles of antonyms.

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Antonyms （対義語）:

1. 寝る(neru) <-----> 起きる(okiru)
       sleep                      wake

2. 開ける(akeru) <-----> 閉じる(tojiru)
        open                          close

3. きれい(kirei) <-----> 汚い(kitanai)
         clean                      dirty

4. 柔らかい(yawarakai) <-----> 硬い(katai)
             soft                               hard

5. 遅い(osoi) <-----> 早い(hayai)
      slow                        fast

6. 表(omote) <-----> 裏(ura)
     front                     back

7. 高い(takai) <-----> 低い(hikui)
      high                        low

8. 短い(mijikai) <-----> 長い(nagai)
     short                         long

9. 重たい(omotai) <-----> 軽い(karui)
       heavy                          light

10. 新しい(atarashii) <-----> 古い(furui)
           new                               old

11. ざらざら(zara-zara) <-----> すべすべ(sube-sube)
           rough                                smooth

12. 暑い(atsui) <-----> 冷たい(tsumetai)
       hot                              cold
*Note: This hot and cold is used to describe the temperature of a beverage.

13. 濡れた(nureta) <-----> 乾いた(kawaita)
          wet                                   dry
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To compare two items using antonyms:

You will use this sentence format:

あの〜〜はだけど、この〜〜は〜〜だ。(ano~~wa dakedo, ano ~~ wa ~~ da.)
*Note: You will put an item in the 1st ~~, then the same item in the 2nd, and finally, in the 3rd ~~, you will insert antonyms/adjectives of your choice mentioned above.

Therefore, if you were to describe a pebble at a beach . . .

あの小石はすべすべだけど、 この小石はざらざらだ。(ano koishi wa sube-sube dakedo, kono koishi wa zara-zara da.)
(That pebble is smooth, but this pebble is rough.)
*Note: This type of sentence is considered as argumentative.

• As you have learned in the previous lessons, to form a formal sentence, you will insert です(desu) at the end.

• To form informal sentences, such as one used between friends, you will insert よ(yo) at the end.