〜さ — Noun form of adjectives (degree/level)
The suffix さ converts い-adjectives and な-adjectives into nouns expressing the DEGREE or AMOUNT of that quality, like '-ness' in English.
Structure
[い-adj drop い] + さ | [な-adj] + さ
Examples
この山の高さは3776メートルです。
Kono yama no takasa wa sanzen nanahyaku nanajuu roku meetoru desu.
The height of this mountain is 3,776 meters.
高い → 高さ (height/tallness, a measurable noun)
彼女の優しさに感動した。
Kanojo no yasashisa ni kandou shita.
I was moved by her kindness.
優しい → 優しさ (kindness, as a noun)
部屋の広さを確認してください。
Heya no hirosa wo kakunin shite kudasai.
Please check the size/area of the room.
広い → 広さ (spaciousness/size)
• Common さ nouns: 高さ (height), 長さ (length), 広さ (size/area), 重さ (weight), 速さ (speed), 暖かさ (warmth), 美しさ (beauty), 優しさ (kindness). • Nuance: さ = objective/measurable degree; み = subjective/felt quality. 暖かさ = measured warmth; 暖かみ = a sense of warmth.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 〜さ is tested against.
vs 〜み
み gives a felt, subjective quality and attaches to a limited set of adjectives (暖かみ, 深み). さ is productive and objective, expressing a measurable degree that can be counted or compared.
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