japonés
/ha-po-NESS/
Japanese
A Daruma doll, representing something Japanese (japonés).
📝 In Action
Me encanta la tecnología japonesa.
A1I love Japanese technology.
Visitamos un restaurante japonés muy bueno.
A1We visited a very good Japanese restaurant.
Las películas japonesas tienen un estilo único.
A2Japanese films have a unique style.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
This adjective must change its ending to match the noun it describes. It has four forms: japonés (masculine singular), japonesa (feminine singular), japoneses (masculine plural), and japonesas (feminine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Escribir 'japones' sin acento."
Correction: Always write 'japonés' with an accent mark (tilde) on the 'e'. This is essential for proper pronunciation.
⭐ Usage Tips
No Capitalization
Unlike English, adjectives referring to nationalities (like japonés) are usually not capitalized in Spanish, even though the country name (Japón) is.
This illustration depicts a Japanese person (un japonés).
japonés(Noun)
Japanese person
?Male person from Japan
,Japanese
?The Japanese language
Japanese man
?Referring to gender
📝 In Action
Mi profesor de arte marcial es japonés.
A1My martial arts teacher is Japanese (a Japanese man).
Aprender japonés requiere mucha dedicación.
A2Learning Japanese requires a lot of dedication.
Los japoneses son conocidos por su puntualidad.
B1Japanese people (men and women) are known for their punctuality.
💡 Grammar Points
Referring to the Language
When 'japonés' means 'the Japanese language,' it is always masculine and usually preceded by the word 'el' (the).
Referring to People
To talk about the people of Japan generally (men and women), use the masculine plural form: 'los japoneses'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Distinguishing Person vs. Language
Context is key! If you see 'hablar' or 'estudiar' nearby, 'japonés' means the language. If you see 'un' or 'una' followed by the name, it refers to a person.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: japonés
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine plural form of 'japonés'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I capitalize 'japonés'?
No, in Spanish, words for nationalities and languages (like japonés, inglés, español) are written in lowercase, unless they are the first word of a sentence. Only the country name, Japón, is capitalized.
How do I say 'Japanese people'?
Use the masculine plural form 'los japoneses'. This form is used to refer to a mixed group of Japanese men and women, or the population in general.