さ・み: Converting Adjectives into Nouns/Adverbs・まっ: "Completely ＋Adj"

Introduction

In this lesson, we're going to learn how to "spice up" adjectives. For example, we'll learn how to say something is "completely" or "totally" a certain way. And we'll also cover "...ness", as in "spiciness" or "legitness". Important, useful, and versatile stuff!

真ま: Precisely

Structure

• 

  真ま(ん・っ)Noun/い-adjective
  Example:
  → 顔かおが真まっ赤かになった。
  ”Their face went completely red.”

First up, 真ま! This prefix attaches before an adjective or noun (did I mention we'll be spicing up nouns as well?), and expresses that it is "completely/totally (adjective/noun)". For example:

• 

  白しろ "white" → 真まっ白しろ "pure white"

• 

  中なか "middle" → 真まん中なか "right in the middle"

• 

  後うしろ "behind" → 真ま後うしろ "right behind"