〜み (nominalizer)
mi (nominalizer)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
-ness (turns an adjective into a noun expressing a felt quality or the place/area with that quality)
Adjective stem + み makes a noun for a quality as you feel it: 甘み "sweetness (taste)", 痛み "pain", 深み "a sense of depth", 楽しみ "pleasure / something to look forward to". Unlike さ, only a limited set of adjectives take み, and the meaning is subjective or sensory.
Food descriptions (甘み, 苦み, 辛み), body sensations (痛み, かゆみ), emotions (悲しみ, 苦しみ, 楽しみ), and depth or weight of character (深み, 重み, 温かみ). Also places: 高み, 弱み / 強み (weak / strong point).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
い-adjective stem + み (甘い → 甘み, 痛い → 痛み)な-adjective stem + み (真剣 → 真剣み, 新鮮 → 新鮮み)Limited set: 甘み, 苦み, 辛み, 痛み, 悲しみ, 楽しみ, 深み, 重み, 温かみ, 面白み, 強み, 弱み
Visual diagram
| Aspect | 〜さ (measurable) | 〜み (felt) |
|---|---|---|
| 深い | 深さ: depth in metres | 深み: a sense of depth (in a story, a flavour) |
| 重い | 重さ: weight in kg | 重み: weight of words, gravity |
| 甘い | 甘さ: sugar level | 甘み: sweetness you taste |
| 温かい | 温かさ: temperature | 温かみ: warmth of character |
Natural examples
この料理には少し甘みがある。
このりょうりにはすこしあまみがある。
This dish has a slight sweetness to it.
Taste: 甘みがある.
彼女の言葉には重みがあった。
かのじょのことばにはおもみがあった。
Her words carried weight.
Abstract weight of words: 重み.
足の痛みがなかなか取れない。
あしのいたみがなかなかとれない。
The pain in my leg just won't go away.
Sensation: 痛み.
週末の旅行を楽しみにしている。
しゅうまつのりょこうをたのしみにしている。
I'm looking forward to the weekend trip.
楽しみにする = look forward to.
この会社の強みは、技術力の高さだ。
このかいしゃのつよみは、ぎじゅつりょくのたかさだ。
This company's strength is its high level of technology.
強み = strong point; note 高さ (さ) for the measurable level.
Similar grammar and the difference
Objective, measurable degree; works with almost all adjectives. Compare side by side
Formal property nouns (可能性). Compare side by side
'A touch of' as a suffix (疲れ気味), not a noun of quality. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- この山の高み is 3,000 metres
- ✓
- この山の高さは三千メートルだ。
- Why
- Measurement uses さ; 高み means 'a high place / height (figurative)'.
- ✗
- 便利み
- ✓
- 便利さ
- Why
- 便利 does not take み; only a limited set of adjectives do.
- ✗
- 痛さがひどい (in normal speech)
- ✓
- 痛みがひどい
- Why
- Pain as a sensation is 痛み; 痛さ would stress the degree and sounds unusual here.
楽しみ has two meanings: 'pleasure' and 'something to look forward to' (楽しみにしている). 強み / 弱み are business words: strengths and weaknesses. Some words exist only with み: 悲しみ, 苦しみ, 憎しみ (from 憎い).
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- Taste, pain, emotion or 'a sense of' → み; numbers or measurable degree → さ.
- If the adjective is not in the み set (便利, 長い, 広い), choose さ.
- 楽しみにする is a fixed phrase often tested in 聴解 and 読解.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜み (nominalizer) mean?
-ness (turns an adjective into a noun expressing a felt quality or the place/area with that quality). Adjective stem + み makes a noun for a quality as you feel it: 甘み "sweetness (taste)", 痛み "pain", 深み "a sense of depth", 楽しみ "pleasure / something to look forward to". Unlike さ, only a limited set of adjectives take み, and the meaning is subjective or sensory.
How do you form 〜み (nominalizer)?
い-adjective stem + み (甘い → 甘み, 痛い → 痛み) / な-adjective stem + み (真剣 → 真剣み, 新鮮 → 新鮮み) / Limited set: 甘み, 苦み, 辛み, 痛み, 悲しみ, 楽しみ, 深み, 重み, 温かみ, 面白み, 強み, 弱み. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜み (nominalizer) used?
Food descriptions (甘み, 苦み, 辛み), body sensations (痛み, かゆみ), emotions (悲しみ, 苦しみ, 楽しみ), and depth or weight of character (深み, 重み, 温かみ). Also places: 高み, 弱み / 強み (weak / strong point).
What is the difference between 〜み (nominalizer) and 〜さ?
Objective, measurable degree; works with almost all adjectives.
What is the difference between 〜み (nominalizer) and 〜性?
Formal property nouns (可能性).
What is a common mistake with 〜み (nominalizer)?
Wrong: この山の高み is 3,000 metres Right: この山の高さは三千メートルだ。 Measurement uses さ; 高み means 'a high place / height (figurative)'.
Quick check
この果物は少し酸っぱいが、（ ）もある。