文法の説明

N4 レッスン 3: 6/18

さ

Converting adjectives to nouns

使い方・接続

［い］Adjective［い］+ さ
［な］Adjective + さ

詳細

  • 使用域

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

「さ」の情報

さ is a suffix in Japanese that can be attached to the stem form of い-Adjectives and な-Adjectives. When this happens, it transforms the target adjective into a noun that illustrates the 'amount' of that particular adjective. This commonly translates as '-ness' in English (sweetness, tallness, spiciness, etc), but is referred to as degree in Japanese.
  • 私(わたし)が道(みち)の長(なが)さを測(はか)ります。
    I will measure the length of the road. (The road's lengthiness)
  • 大人(おとな)になってから家族(かぞく)の大切(たいせつ)さが分(わ)かってきた。
    After becoming an adult, I came to understand the importance of family. (Family's importantness)
Fun Fact
It is thought that this suffix originally stemmed from the kanji 差(さ) (meaning 'distinction'), and was used for highlighting things that were distinctive features of something. In this way, さ is also sometimes used after the dictionary form of verbs, to highlight a distinct point in time that something happens.
  • 学校(がっこう)からの帰(かえ)るさにお金(かね)を拾(ひろ)った。
    On the way back from school, I picked up some money. (At the 'point' of returning home)
  • 行(い)くさで家(いえ)に忘(わす)れ物(もの)をしたことを思(おも)い出(だ)した。
    When I was on my way there, I remembered that I had left something at home. (At the 'point' of going somewhere)
However, this use of the suffix is far less common in modern Japanese, and is known as 'poetic language'. It was primarily used during Japan's 'middle ages', which spanned from (around) 1100, until close to the end of the 1500's.

例文

  • この美(うつく)しさは初(はじ)めてです。

    This beauty is a first for me.

  • 彼(かれ)の元気(げんき)さは子供(こども)みたい。

    His energy is like that of a child.

  • この甘(あま)さは美味(おい)しい。

    This sweetness is delicious.

  • この景色(けしき)の綺麗(きれい)さは言葉(ことば)では説明(せつめい)できない。

    I am unable to explain the prettiness of this scenery with words.

  • 箱(はこ)の重(おも)さを測(はか)ってください。

    Please weigh the heaviness of the box for me?

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「さ」に関する文法ディスカッション

最近の返信 (合計7件)

  • adrianh

    adrianh

    Can someone elaborate on the Fun Fact of this entry?

    I cannot find anything about it, is not even finished:

    However, this use of the suffix is far less common in modern Japanese, and is known as ’

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey there @adrianh !

    It mentions the old use here.

    When you say it is not finished, do you mean that nothing is displayed after ‘…and is know as…’? It is supposed to say 'However, this use of the suffix is far less common in modern Japanese, and is known as ‘poetic language’. It was primarily used during Japan’s ‘middle ages’, which spanned from (around) 1100, until close to the end of the 1500’s. ’

  • adrianh

    adrianh

    Thank you so much @Fuga !

    Yeah, I was referring to the sentence finishing at "also is known as ’ ", but it has been corrected

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