Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith the 48th issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Today, we’re simply going through some grammar:

Adjective さ (Objective Nouns)

Adding the suffix 〜さ (sa) to an adjective turns it into a noun, giving it the nuance of something objective and measurable. It’s like adding “...ness” in English (e.g., goodness, kindness, brightness).

Grammar Equations:

• い-adj (Stem) + さ

• な-adj (Stem) + さ

For example:

• 高い + さ → 高さ (takasa) = height

• 便利な + さ → 便利さ (benrisa) = convenience

The Basics

Forming 〜さ

To create a さ noun:

1. Remove the 〜い from い-adjectives, or the な from な-adjectives.

2. Add 〜さ to the stem form.

Examples:

• 高い (takai, tall/high) → 高さ (takasa) = height

• 便利な (benri na, convenient) → 便利さ (benrisa) = convenience

Almost all adjectives can use 〜さ to form nouns, unlike the related suffix 〜み (mi), which is more limited.

Using 〜さ with い-Adjective Forming Suffixes

The 〜さ suffix works with adjectives formed using other endings like 〜たい (tai), 〜やすい (yasui), and 〜っぽい (ppoi).

Examples:

• 使う (tsukau, to use) → 使いやすい (tsukaiyasui, easy to use) → 使いやすさ (tsukaiyasusa) = usability

• 男 (otoko, man) → 男らしい (otokorashii, manly) → 男らしさ (otokorashisa) = manliness

Uses of 〜さ

For Expressing Objective Amount

Use 〜さ to describe amounts that are measurable.

Examples:

• 空港へ行く前に、カバンの重さを測りました。
  Kuukou e iku mae ni, kaban no omosa o hakarimashita.
  I measured the weight of my luggage before going to the airport.

• プールの深さを確認してから入ろう。
  Pūru no fukasa o kakunin shite kara hairou.
  Check the depth of the pool before getting in.

Beyond the Basics

Presenting Subjective Qualities as Objective Truths

You can use 〜さ with subjective adjectives like 優しい (yasashii, kind) or 面白い (omoshiroi, interesting) to treat them as objective qualities.

Examples:

• テストの難しさを予想する。
  Tesuto no muzukashisa o yosou suru.
  I can imagine how difficult the test will be.

In this example, 難しさ (muzukashisa) makes "difficulty" feel more like a measurable, external quality rather than a personal feeling.

Comparing with 〜み

Some adjectives can take both 〜さ and 〜み, with slightly different nuances:

• あの映画は面白みに欠けている。
  Ano eiga wa omoshiromi ni kaketeiru.
  The movie lacks an element that intrigues me personally.

• あの映画は面白さに欠けている。
  Ano eiga wa omoshirosa ni kaketeiru.
  The movie lacks interesting elements (objectively speaking).

Here, 〜み expresses personal feelings, while 〜さ treats the idea as more objective.

Opposite Pairs and Spectrum Meanings

When adjectives come in opposites (e.g., big/small or fast/slow), the positive side often represents the whole concept.

Examples:

• 大きさ (ookisa) = size
  小ささ (chiisasa) = smallness

• 速さ (hayasa) = speed
  遅さ (ososa) = slowness

大きさ (ookisa) refers to overall size, while 小ささ (chiisasa) only refers to smallness.

By learning how to use 〜さ, you can turn adjectives into nouns and better describe objective qualities in Japanese. Practice using it in sentences to express measurements, qualities, and comparisons!

That’s all folks!

Let me know if you enjoyed this simple grammar run-through :)

Have a great Sunday!