What does “asai” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “asai” to mean ‘shallow’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “asai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “asai”
- Asakunai: the nai form of “asai”
- Asakatta: the ta form of “asai”
- Asakute: the te form of “asai”
- Asakereba: the ba form of “asai”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “asai”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “asai”.
- asai – 浅い (あさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘shallow’ in Japanese.
Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective normally to describe a short depth from the surface of something. “Something” here is often an object, but sometimes it can be an idea or thought. Even in this case, this i-adjective can describe its shallowness. It’s worth knowing, I think.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “shallow” in Japanese
kono kawa wa asai – この川は浅い (このかわはあさい)
This river is shallow.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “kawa” to say “this river” in Japanese.
- kawa – 川 (かわ) : a noun meaning ‘river’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono kawa” to make the subject in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “asai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “asai kawa” to mean ‘a shallow river’ in Japanese.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “asai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “asakunai”.
Asakunai: the nai form of “asai”
Below are the definition and meaning of “asakunai”.
- asakunai – 浅くない (あさくない) : the nai form of “asai”, which means ‘not shallow’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “asakunai” consists of the following two parts:
- asaku – 浅く (あさく) : one conjugation of “asai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “asakunai” is literally the nai form of “asai” and means ‘not shallow’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “not shallow” in Japanese
ano mizuumi wa asakunai – あの湖は浅くない (あのみずうみはあさくない)
That lake is not shallow.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “mizuumi” to say “that lake” in Japanese.
- mizuumi – 湖 (みずうみ) : a noun meaning ‘lake’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “asakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not shallow’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Asakatta: the ta form of “asai”
Below are the definition and meanings of “asakatta”.
- asakatta – 浅かった (あさかった) : the ta form of “asai”, which means ‘was shallow’, ‘were shallow’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “asakatta” consists of the following two parts:
- asakat – 浅かっ (あさかっ) : one conjugation of “asai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “asakatta” is literally the ta form of “asai” and means ‘was shallow’, ‘were shallow’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “was shallow” in Japanese
kangae ga asakatta – 考えが浅かった (かんがえがあさかった)
The idea was shallow.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : a verb meaning ‘idea’, ‘thought’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kangae” to make the subject in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “asakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “asai”, this ta form is the best option.
Asakute: the te form of “asai”
Below are the definition and meaning of “asakute”.
- asakute – 浅くて (あさくて) : the te form of “asai”, which means ‘shallow’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “asakute” consists of the following two parts:
- asaku – 浅く (あさく) : one conjugation of “asai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “asakute” is literally the te form of “asai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “asakute” is very useful when we want to use “asai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “shallow and” in Japanese
kimi no kangae wa asakute tsumaranai – 君の考えは浅くてつまらない (きみのかんがえはあさくてつまらない)
Your idea is shallow and boring.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kimi” to make its possessive case, “kimi no”, which means ‘your’ in Japanese.
- tsumaranai – つまらない : an i-adjective meaning ‘boring’ or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “asakute”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “tsumaranai”. When we want to use “asai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Asakereba: the ba form of “asai”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “asakereba”.
- asakereba – 浅ければ (あさければ) : the ba form of “asai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘shallow’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “asakereba” consists of the following two parts:
- asakere – 浅けれ (あさけれ) : one conjugation of “asai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “asakereba” is literally the ba form of “asai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “asakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘shallow’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “if shallow” in Japanese
mizuumi ga asakereba, boku tachi wa oyogeru – 湖が浅ければ、僕達は泳げる (みずうみがあさければ、ぼくたちはおよげる)
If the lake is shallow, we can swim.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
- oyogeru – 泳げる (およげる) : a potential verb meaning ‘can swim’ or ‘to be able to swim’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “asakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “mizuumi ga asakereba”, which means ‘if the lake is shallow’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘shallow’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “asai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- asai – 浅い (あさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘shallow’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
- asakunai – 浅くない (あさくない) : the nai form of “asai”, which means ‘not shallow’ in Japanese.
- asakatta – 浅かった (あさかった) : the ta form of “asai”, which means ‘was shallow’, ‘were shallow’, or such in Japanese.
- asakute – 浅くて (あさくて) : the te form of “asai”, which means ‘shallow’ in Japanese. When we want to use “asai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- asakereba – 浅ければ (あさければ) : the ba form of “asai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘shallow’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
