Nagai is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘long’, explained

What does “nagai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “nagai” to mean ‘long’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “nagai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “nagai”
  • Example #1: how to say “long” in Japanese
• Nagakunai: the nai form of “nagai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not long” in Japanese
• Nagakatta: the ta form of “nagai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was long” in Japanese
• Nagakute: the te form of “nagai”
  • Example #4: how to say “long and” in Japanese
• Nagakereba: the ba form of “nagai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if long” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “nagai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “nagai”.

• nagai – 長い (ながい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘long’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something large in length or long in time. So, this can work in more or less the same way as the English adjective, “long”, I think.

The definition and meaning are very simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “long” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ 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 “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• kami – 髪 (かみ) : a noun meaning ‘hair’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi no kami” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nagai”. 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 “watashi no nagai kami” to mean ‘my long hair’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to say “long” in Japanese, “nagai” is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nagai” 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 “nagakunai”.

Nagakunai: the nai form of “nagai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nagakunai”.

• nagakunai – 長くない (ながくない) : the nai form of “nagai”, which means ‘not long’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• nagaku – 長く (ながく) : one conjugation of “nagai”. 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 “nagakunai” is literally the nai form of “nagai” and means ‘not long’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not long” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• nippon – 日本 (にっぽん) : a noun meaning ‘Japan’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “nippon” and “aki”. The formed phrase literally means ‘autumn in Japan’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions.
• aki – 秋 (あき) : a noun meaning ‘autumn’ or ‘fall’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagakunai”. When we want to say “not long” in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.

Nagakatta: the ta form of “nagai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nagakatta”.

• nagakatta – 長かった (ながかった) : the ta form of “nagai”, which means ‘was long’, ‘were long’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• nagakat – 長かっ (ながかっ) : one conjugation of “nagai”. 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 “nagakatta” is literally the ta form of “nagai” and means ‘was long’, ‘were long’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was long” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kotoshi – 今年 (ことし) : a noun meaning ‘this year’ in Japanese. In the example, this works together with “no” and “natsu” to mean ‘this summer’ in Japanese. The formed phrase literally means “this year’s summer” in Japanese, though.
• natsu – 夏 (なつ) : a noun meaning ‘summer’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nagai”, this ta form is the best option.

Nagakute: the te form of “nagai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nagakute”.

• nagakute – 長くて (ながくて) : the te form of “nagai”, which means ‘long’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagakute” consists of the following two parts:

• nagaku – 長く (ながく) : one conjugation of “nagai”. 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 “nagakute” is literally the te form of “nagai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nagakute” is very useful when we want to use “nagai” 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 “long and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• atsui – 暑い (あつい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hot’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nagakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “atsui”. When we want to use “nagai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is useful to make a smooth connection.

Nagakereba: the ba form of “nagai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “nagakereba”.

• nagakereba – 長ければ (ながければ) : the ba form of “nagai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘long’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nagakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• nagakere – 長けれ (ながけれ) : one conjugation of “nagai”. 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 “nagakereba” is literally the ba form of “nagai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nagakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘long’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if long” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• 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 “kami” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• tabane – 束ね (たばね) : one conjugation of the verb, “tabaneru”, which means ‘to tie’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “nagakute”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – 下さい (ください) : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “tabane te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “nagakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause which means ‘if your hair is long’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘long’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nagai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• nagai – 長い (ながい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘long’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• nagakunai – 長くない (ながくない) : the nai form of “nagai”, which means ‘not long’ in Japanese.
• nagakatta – 長かった (ながかった) : the ta form of “nagai”, which means ‘was long’, ‘were long’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “nagai”.
• nagakute – 長くて (ながくて) : the te form of “nagai”, which means ‘long’ in Japanese. When we want to use “nagai” in front of another adjective, this te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
• nagakereba – 長ければ (ながければ) : the ba form of “nagai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘long’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.