How to say “light (weight)” in Japanese | 軽い (かるい、karui)

The Japanese vocabulary「軽い (かるい、karui)」means “light” and is an い-adjective. We will teach you the conjugation and the example sentences on this page.

Vocabulary Video

Please learn about the pronunciation before you learn the conjugations.

Dictionary & Plain Form, Polite Form

Key Word軽い軽いです
Hiraganaかるいかるいです
Romaji Readingkaruikarui desu
English Meaninglight
(Dictionary & Plain Form)
light
(Polite Form)

This camera is lighter than I thought.

このカメラはおもったよりかるい。(Plain Form)
このカメラは思ったより軽いです。(Polite Form)


I can go home with light steps.

軽い足取あしどりでいえかえれます。(Polite Form)

The adjective「軽い」is in plain form. However, this sentence is in polite form. We will teach you the details in our conversation lessons or mail support


I can carry my child since he/she is still light.

このはまだ軽いからっこできます。(Polite Form)

The adjective「軽い」is also in plain form. However, this sentence is in polite form.
The literal translation of「この」is “this child.” However, it usually indicates “my child.”

ない Form (Negative & Plain Form)

Key Word軽くない
Hiraganaかるくない
Romaji Readingkaruku nai
English Meaningnot light
(Plain Form)

This digital camera is not light.

このデジカメは軽くない。(Plain Form)

Negative & Polite Form

Key Word軽くないです軽くありません
Hiraganaかるくないですかるくありません
Romaji Readingkaruku naikaruku  arimasen
English Meaningnot light
(Polite Form)
not light
(Polite Form)

This digital camera is not light.

このデジカメは軽くないです。(Polite Form)
このデジカメは軽くありません。(Polite Form)

Past Tense & Positive

Key Word軽かった軽かったです
Hiraganaかるかったかるかったです
Romaji Readingkarukattakarukatta desu
English Meaningwas light
(Plain Form)
was light
(Polite Form)

That golf bag was very light.

あのゴルフバッグは、とても軽かった。(Plain Form)
あのゴルフバッグは、とても軽かったです。(Polite Form)

Past Tense & Negative

Key Word軽くなかった
Hiraganaかるくなかった
Romaji Readingkaruku nakatta
English Meaningwas not light
(Plain Form)
軽くなかったです軽くありませんでした
かるくなかったですかるくありませんでした
karuku nakatta desukaruku arimasen deshita
was not light
(Polite Form)
was not light
(Polite Form)

That golf bag was not light.

あのゴルフバッグは、軽くなかった。(Plain Form)
あのゴルフバッグは、軽くなかったです。(Polite Form)
あのゴルフバッグは、軽くありませんでした。(Polite Form)

て Form

Key Word軽くて
Hiraganaかるくて
Romaji Readingkarukute
English MeaningN/A

The exact meaning is unclear without knowing the full sentence.


This computer is light and easy to carry.

このパソコンは、軽くてはこびがしやすいです。(Polite Form)

Conditional Form & Positive

Key Word軽くなければ
Hiraganaかるくなければ
Romaji Readingkaruku nakereba
English Meaningif ~ is not light

I don’t want to buy a suitcase unless it’s lightweight.

キャリーバッグは、軽くなければいたくありません。


To Have Correct Japanese Language Skills

We teach Japanese to non-native Japanese learners. From our experience, 90% of Japanese learners use incorrect Japanese and often speak rudely, even though they have lived in Japan for many years.

Therefore, we created two services. One is our "Private Japanese Conversation Lesson" and the other is our "Daily Japanese Mail Support" service.

In the "Private Japanese Conversation Lesson," you can talk with a native Japanese teacher. Let us practice conversation together!

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The details are on our website: https://ichiwebsite.com/

い-Adjectives