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How should the onion be cut? 「薄く切ります」 means cutting it into thin slices.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3

〜く／〜に＋動詞~ku / ~ni + doushi

describe how an action is done

Put 「〜く／〜に＋動詞」 before a verb to say how an action is done, using the adjective’s form.

How it works

  1. How should the onion be cut? 「薄く切ります」 means cutting it into thin slices.

    How should the onion be cut? 「薄く切ります」 means cutting it into thin slices.

  2. When an い-adjective describes an action, its final 「い」 changes to 「く」: 薄い→薄く.

    When an い-adjective describes an action, its final 「い」 changes to 「く」: 薄い→薄く.

  3. Put the changed form before the verb. 「細く切ります」 means cutting the carrot into thin strips.

    Put the changed form before the verb. 「細く切ります」 means cutting the carrot into thin strips.

  4. Answer 「どう切りますか」 with 「薄く切ります」 to specify how you cut it.

    Answer 「どう切りますか」 with 「薄く切ります」 to specify how you cut it.

  5. Look at the plate after washing. 「きれいに洗います」 means washing the plate clean.

    Look at the plate after washing. 「きれいに洗います」 means washing the plate clean.

  6. When a な-adjective modifies a verb, add 「に」 to its stem: きれい→きれいに.

    When a な-adjective modifies a verb, add 「に」 to its stem: きれい→きれいに.

Although 「きれい」 ends in い, it is a な-adjective. Keep the い; do not change it to く.

Although 「きれい」 ends in い, it is a な-adjective. Keep the い; do not change it to く.

Example sentences

  • きれいにkireini洗いますあらいますaraimasu

    Wash it clean.

  • 玉ねぎたまねぎtamanegiをo薄くうすくusuku切ります。きりますkirimasu

    Slice the onion thinly.

In a conversation

  • A
    玉ねぎたまねぎをどう切りますきりますか。か

    A: How do you cut the onion?

  • B
    薄くうすく切ります。きります

    B: I slice it thinly.

  • A
    人参にんじんはわどうですか。か

    A: How about the carrot?

  • B
    細くほそく切ります。きります

    B: I cut it into thin strips.

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    Cut the onions thinly.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    玉ねぎを 切ります。

    Cut the onion thinly.

More grammar in this theme

  • 召し上がります・おっしゃいますspecial honorific verbs
  • お〜になります／ご〜になりますhonorific action form
  • お〜します／ご〜しますhumble action for others
  • 〜く／〜に＋動詞describe how an action is done
  • 〜ている間にduring an ongoing action
  • 〜くします／〜にしますmake something a certain way
Previousお〜します／ご〜しますNext〜ている間に

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