GrammarJLPT N5
→ that kind of
That Sort of / That Kind of
JLPT N5Other (Pre-noun adjectival / Rentaishi)Neutral
あんな is a pre-noun adjectival (連体詞) meaning "that sort of" or "that kind of," used to describe the nature or quality of a noun that is distant from both the speaker and the listener, or that both parties have shared knowledge of. It belongs to the こそあど (ko-so-a-do) demonstrative system: こんな refers to something near the speaker, そんな to something near the listener or just mentioned, あんな to something far from both, and どんな is the question form. Unlike あの, which simply points out a specific item ("that [particular] thing over there"), あんな characterizes the type or quality of something, often carrying an emotional nuance — it can express admiration, surprise, or contempt depending on context. Because it is a rentaishi, あんな always directly precedes a noun and does not conjugate.
Examples
Example #1
あんな大きい家に住みたいです。
Here あんな is used to describe a house that is far from both the speaker and the listener, characterizing it by its quality — being large. The speaker is not just pointing at a specific house but expressing admiration for the type of house it represents. This is a typical use where あんな conveys a sense of longing or admiration toward something distant.I want to live in that kind of big house.
Structures
- Before a noun
- あんな + Noun
Common mistakes
A common mistake is confusing あんな with あの. While あの simply identifies a specific item ("that book over there"), あんな describes the type or quality of something ("that kind of book"). Another frequent error is mixing up the ko-so-a-do series — using あんな when こんな (near speaker) or そんな (near listener / just mentioned) would be appropriate. Learners should also be aware that あんな must always be followed by a noun; it cannot be used at the end of a sentence or before a verb on its own. If you want to modify a verb or use it as a standalone adverb, the corresponding form is あんなに (to that degree).
Related
こんなそんなどんなあのああいう