noun = +N,-V

Japanese adjectives such as utsukushi ‘beautiful ’ have some unusual properties, as compared to Indo-European languages like English. These properties make them seem like they are somewhat verbal, rather than being “pure ” adjectives. In recognition of this, researchers like Miyagawa (1987) and Murasugi (1990) place them in a fourth lexical category, the features of which are nondistinct from both verbs and “true adjectives ” (often known as nominal adjectives) like kirei ‘beautiful’. This system is summarized in (1). (1) verb = +V,-