Legend & Conventions
How to read the reference pages — icons, badges, color codes, and layout conventions.
Legend
The following icons and badges are used throughout the reference pages to indicate usage context and grammatical forms.
Usage Icons
話Used primarily in spoken Japanese.
書Used primarily in written Japanese.
男Used mostly by men.
女Used mostly by women.
子Used mostly by children.
古Old/Archaic expression (古い)
硬Used in formal/polite situations (硬い: hard)
!Not appropriate when talking to superiors (use with caution).
!!Regarded as vulgar and/or used to express anger or harsh disapproval.
上Advanced topic/expression (JLPT N2–N1).
★Reference-only topic (beyond the scope of JLPT and/or outside common knowledge even among native speakers).
↓Footnote (Also: 2 3 4)
✕Incorrect usage.
○Correct usage.
NNoun
NONoun followed by the particle の
NANoun followed by な
TIMENoun indicating time
LOCNoun indicating location/place
ADJAdjective. (高い, 元気な)
i-ADJi-Adjective (高い)
na-ADJna-Adjective (元気な)
(note that in most cases, na-ADJ can be used as Nouns if な is omitted.)
(note that in most cases, na-ADJ can be used as Nouns if な is omitted.)
VERB"Nounable" verb form (see Basic Japanese page: N)
PASTPast-tense verb (〜た、〜ていた、〜なかった、etc.)
-U/-TAPresent or past verb (non-negative)
NAINegative form
-U/NAIPresent tense verb (regular or negative)
VERB+の"Nounable" verb form followed by particle の
SURUSuru-verb stem word (noun)
-IVerb form. Also: -I -U -E -OU -TE -TA -TE+た
Conventions
The reference pages use a consistent layout for grammar entries. Here is how to read them:
話VERBNまで
even so far as
迄- Something surprising, in addition to other (less surprising) things.
- Not typically used with a negative.
までは：“so far as...” used with a negative
田中さんの家では風呂場にまでテレビがある。
In Mr. Tanaka's house, there's a television even in the bathroom.
Usage badges -- Who uses it, formality level (see Legend)
Form badges -- What can precede the expression (VERB, N, ADJ, etc.)
Japanese pattern -- The grammar form in kana/kanji
English meaning -- Brief translation of the grammar point
Kanji form (gray) -- Kanji version, typically not used in writing
Alternate form (blue) -- Sub-usage or variation of the main form
Bullet notes -- Usage restrictions, nuances, and special rules
Example sentences -- Japanese sentence + English translation; gray text = implied meaning
Key points about the layout
- Usage badges appear on the left side of entries, indicating what can precede the form/expression.
- Kanji form appears in gray when it is typically not used in everyday writing.
- English meaning is shown to the right of the Japanese pattern.
- Alternate forms or sub-usages are shown in blue.
- Furigana is not always provided in headings. If unsure of a reading, check the example sentence.
- Gray text in examples represents information not explicitly stated in the Japanese sentence (added for clarity and/or grammatical coherence in English).
- Gray text in titles marks content that can be or is often omitted.
Relative Time
| -2 | -1 | Present | +1 | +2 | "the next" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 一昨日 | 昨日 | 今日 | 明日 | 明後日 | 翌日 |
| Week | 先々週 | 先週 | 今週 | 来週 | 再来週 | 翌週 |
| Month | 先々月 | 先月 | 今月 | 来月 | 再来月 | 翌月 |
| Year | 一昨年 | 去年 | 今年 | 来年 | 再来年 | 翌年 |
| Other | -- | 昨夜 | 今朝 | 今晩 | 明々後日 | -- |
Icons & Badges Reference
Usage Icons
話Used primarily in spoken Japanese
書Used primarily in written Japanese
男Used mostly by men
女Used mostly by women
子Used mostly by children
古Old / Archaic expression
硬Used in formal / stiff situations
!Use with caution (not for superiors)
!!Vulgar / expresses anger or disapproval
上Advanced (JLPT N2–N1)
★Reference-only (beyond JLPT scope)
↓Footnote
✕Incorrect usage
○Correct usage
Form Badges
NNoun
NONoun followed by the particle の
NANoun followed by な
TIMENoun indicating time
LOCNoun indicating location/place
ADJAdjective (i-adjective or na-adjective)
i-ADJi-Adjective (e.g. 高い)
na-ADJna-Adjective (e.g. 元気な)
VERB"Nounable" verb form
PASTPast-tense verb (〜た、〜ていた、etc.)
-U/-TAPresent or past verb (non-negative)
NAINegative form
-U/NAIPresent tense verb (regular or negative)
VERB+の"Nounable" verb form followed by の
SURUSuru-verb stem word (noun)
Verb Form Suffixes
-IVerb -I form (連用形)
-UVerb -U form (終止形)
-EVerb -E form (仮定形)
-OUVerb -OU form (意志形)
-TEVerb -TE form (て形)
-TAVerb -TA form (た形)
-TE+たVerb -TE form + past