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I noticed that some i-adjectives have specific prefixes that can be used to
intensify the quality of the states that are described by the adjectives,
similar to "flaming hot", "freezing cold" etc in English. Some examples:

> 物{もの}凄{すご}い
>
> 蒸{む}し暑{あつ}い
>
> 膚{はだ}寒{さむ}い
>
> [容易]{たやす}い
>
> 手{て}厳{きび}しい
>
> 真{ま}新{あたら}しい

With color adjectives, there is 真 which intensifies as well as makes the
i-adjectives into na-adjectives:

> 真{ま}っ白{しろ}
>
> 真{ま}っ黒{くろ}
>
> 真{ま}っ赤{か}
>
> 真{ま}っ青{さお}

However, there are prefixes that focus rather than intensify the i-adjectives.
Examples for 苦しい {くるしい}:

> 重{おも}苦{くる}しい = gloomy, heavy (focus on the atmosphere)
>
> 息{いき}苦{ぐる}しい = choking, suffocating (focus on the air)
>
> 寝{ね}苦{ぐる}しい = unable to sleep well (focus on the sleeping/rest)
>
> 見{み}苦{ぐる}しい = ugly (focus on the look)
>
> 狭{せま}苦{くる}しい = cramped (focus on the space)
>
> 堅{かた}苦{ぐる}しい = strict (focus on the flexibility)

So my questions are:

  1. Is there special categories and treatment for these prefixes in Japanese language?

  2. Are there websites/resources/lists where I can look up if a particular i-adjective has an intensifier or not?
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2011-08-08T04:42:05.323
2523
2012-01-14T21:30:32.760
2012-01-14T21:30:32.760
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question
resources i-adjectives
i-adjective specific intensifiers/qualifiers? e.g. 物凄い {ものすごい}
複合形容詞 appears to be the generic term for a compound adjective.

<http://ir.lib.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/metadb/up/kiyo/AN10281005/Hiroshima-
IntStudentCenter-kiyo_16_13.pdf> \- this article covers the various types, and
gives many examples.

I don't know of any particular lists of these words, but some dictionaries
allow you to do a search for words by ending (で終わる) which should bring them
up.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-08-08T11:23:57.300
2531
2011-08-08T11:23:57.300
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answer