Symbols and conventions used in the Japanese Quick Reference | yomeru.ai

How to read the Quick Reference: usage icons (formal, spoken, gendered, archaic), grammar badges (N, VERB, ADJ, -TE), color codes, and the grammar entry layout explained.

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(ふるい))

硬Used in formal/polite situations (硬い(かたい): 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 reference

✕Incorrect usage.

○Correct usage.

NNoun

NONoun followed by the particle の

NANoun followed by な

TIMENoun indicating time

LOCNoun indicating location/place

ADJAdjective. (高(たか)い, 元気(げんき)な)

i-ADJi-Adjective (高(たか)い)

na-ADJna-Adjective (元気(げんき)な)
(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(たなか)さんの家(いえ)では風呂場(ふろば)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(おととい)	昨日(きのう)	今日(きょう)	明日(あした)	明後日(あさって)	翌日(よくじつ)
Week	先々週(せんせんしゅう)	先週(せんしゅう)	今週(こんしゅう)	来週(らいしゅう)	再来週(さらいしゅう)	翌週(よくしゅう)
Month	先々月(せんせんげつ)	先月(せんげつ)	今月(こんげつ)	来月(らいげつ)	再来月(さらいげつ)	翌月(よくげつ)
Year	一昨年(おととし)	去年(きょねん)	今年(ことし)	来年(らいねん)	再来年(さらいねん)	翌年(よくねん)
Other	--	昨夜(さくや)	今朝(けさ)	今晩(こんばん)	明々後日(しあさって)	--

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