連体詞 are simply adjectival words that are stuck in the 連体形 or are modifier phrases treated as a single unit.
There are also 連体詞 that come from two defunct classes of 形容動詞: ナル形容動詞 and タル形容動詞, which still possess functional 連用形, に and と respectively. They can be viewed as adjectives with just dormant bases. In some expressions, their former past as completely functional adjectives can be more obvious. These words, though, will be discussed later on.
Below is a chart of most of the 連体詞 in Japanese followed by example sentences. This list is not exhaustive, and the defunct adjectival classes are discussed later in this lesson.
Big | 大きな | Every | あらゆる |
Funny | おかしな | Mere | ほんの |
Small | 小さな | Eternal | 長・永の |
New | 新たな | A certain | 或る |
Considerable | 大した | Pretending | 素知らぬ |
Unthinkable | とんだ | Unexpected | ひょんな |
Remaining | 残んの | This | こな |
Odd | 異な | Reckless | 大それた |
Considerate | 心有る | Improper | あらぬ |
Following | 明くる | Unknown | 見知らぬ |
Untiring | 飽くなき | Various | 色んな |
Last | 去んぬる | Only (thing) | ものの |
Reasonable | 無理からぬ | Useless | 言われぬ |
Past | 往にし | Strange | 奇しき |
Usage Notes:
1. All adjectival こそあど words are 連体詞. Many 連体詞 are created from classical grammatical items.
2. Many of these are uncommon and rather archaic.
3. 無理からぬ comes from the からぬ from よからぬ, the classical negative attribute form of よい, attached to 無理.
Examples
1. 色んな文書を揃える。
To arrange various documents.
2. 大きな亀裂が入っている。
There is a large crack (in the wall).
3. 無理からぬ話ですね。
It's a reasonable story, isn't it?
4. 奇しき出来事
A strange incident
5. 明くる日
The following day
6. ものの見事に
With great success
7. 素知らぬ顔
A pretending face
8. あらゆる努力をして新たな計画を練った。
With every effort he created a new plan.
9. ひょんなことから明くる日の出来事が大きな問題になった。
From sheer chance the following day became a serious problem.
10a. 永の別れとなった。
10b. 永遠の別れとなった。(More spoken and also more common)
It became an eternal separation.
11. 飽くなき欲望がありますね。
You sure have a persistent desire don't you?
12. 残んのお月を見よ。 (雅語)
Look at the remaining moon.
13. ウォルマートにはありとあらゆる品物が並んでいます。
Everything that you can think of is at Walmart.
14. 心ある市民の怒りを買うなんて悪行だ。
Buying the hatred of sensible citizens is an evil act.
15. 新たな冒険が始まる。
A new adventure begins.
16. 彼はあらゆる努力を尽くした。
He made every effort.
17. ぼんやりとあらぬ方を見やる。
To vaguely gaze at an improper way.