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

    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.

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.

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.

関連

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.

    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?

    この寒(さむ)さだけで死(し)ぬよ。

    Just by this coldness you will die.

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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)

  • Jake

    Jake

    Converts an Adjective into a Noun

    Structure

    • Adj[い] + さ
    • なAdj + さ

    View on Bunpro

  • deltacat3

    deltacat3

    食べたことのない甘さがあるクッキーを作ってみたい。
    I want to try and make a cookie that has sweetness that I have never tasted before.

    Why does this sentence replace the が in the usual ことがある structure with の?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    A が marking the subject in a relative clause can generally be (and often is) replaced with の. The meaning is the same.

  • deltacat3

    deltacat3

    Oddly enough I kind of like this, it keeps it clear what the subject is and avoids repetition. I will definitely keep this in mind for the future. Thank you @nekoyama !

  • matt_in_mito

    matt_in_mito

    What’s the difference between ～みand ～さ?
    The way I learned it is that ～さ is measurable and ～み is unmeasurable but on adverts I always see 美味おいしさ, so I’m wondering if there is a more subtle difference that I’m missing.

  • 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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