Structure
Verb［た］(1) + まま
［い］Adjective + まま
［な］Adjective + な + まま
Noun + の + まま
(1) Verb［ない］
Details
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Rare Kanji
儘・侭
About まま(に)
まま, coming from the kanji 儘, which means 'as it is', is a noun in Japanese that is used for describing the 'unchanged state' of something. This expression may be translated as 'while remaining (A)', 'as (A) is', or 'left in the state of (A)'. It can be used after any word in its attributive form. However, when used with verbs, it has a tendency to be used with the た (past) form most frequently.
まま often expresses that something should be left alone, or undisturbed. This is generally seen with verbs in the ない form.
Caution
While まま may be followed by the case marking particle に, it is very often omitted. When it appears, however, it will place extra emphasis on the next verb in the sentence.
- エンジンを点けたままにしておいてください。Please keep your engine on.
-
扇風機を点けたままにして家を出る。I leave my house with my fan turned on. (Often)
Fun Fact
まま may sometimes be pronounced as まんま. However, this variation is primarily only used in casual speech, or writing that is being made to sound like casual speech.
- これどこに片付ければいいかわからないからこのまんまでいい？I don’t know where to put this so is it okay if I just leave it here?
Synonyms
てある
Something is done, Has been done, Remaining state
Not studied yet
っぱなし
Leaving something in a certain state, Left as is, Keep on -ing
Not studied yet
きり
Only, Just, Since
Not studied yet
たなり・なり
While... ~ing, Remaining, Not or ever since, Keep or leave
Not studied yet
れる・られる + ままに
Do as (one is told or ordered…), In accordance with, In compliance with, Just like
Not studied yet
如く・如き・如し
Like, Similar to, As if, The same as
Not studied yet
Examples
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コートを着たままだと少し暑いです。
I feel a little hot keeping this jacket on.
昨日は窓を開けたまま寝た。
Last night I slept with the windows left open.
生徒は答えられなくて、黙ったままでした。
The student couldn't answer and stayed quiet.
このまま行くと図書館が見えます。
If you stay on this course, you will be able to see the library.
ありのままの君が好きだ。
I like you, just as you are.
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Online
How to use ~まま
Maggie Sensei
Expressing lack of change
Tae Kim
Offline
Tobira
Page 285
Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
Page 138
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 296
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 189
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まま(に) – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (9 in total)
Daru
One basic difference I can think of is that while both てある and まま mean that something was left in that state, the “something that must be left alone/undisturbed” nuance is unique to まま.
てある is just stating the fact.
Hope this helps!
soundjona
Isn’t it a bit strange that in thise case, the に is rejected ? Also could be maybe just a suggestion to remove it ?
casual
I would hazard a guess that このまま (このまま – Vocabulary details – jpdb ) is just an expression that is never followed by に. At least an online search for “このままに” gives very few results.
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