I really need help with this form is someone has time. I would very much appreciate it. I’ve read what my textbooks says, I’ve had natives try to explain it to me, I’ve had some learners try and I’ve googled it, but everytime I try to use it I’ve been told I’m using it incorrectly. I need someone to explain how to use this in a sentence please. Teach me it as if I’m a 5 year old child. I need the most basic dumbed down version you can give because it’s just not clicking with me.
I understand that it’s essentially the “ness” form in English. Cold – coldness, sweet – sweetness, hot – heat etc. I also know I drop the い and add さ. But in terms of sentence I’m not getting it at all.
2 comments
What kind of sentences are you making that people are correcting? You explained it right so I’m not sure what the problem is, it’s a pretty simple grammar point.
Check this out really quick
https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-grammar/adjective-suffix-sa/
I’ll add that you don’t really freely use this grammar point. It functions more like a fixed expression in many situations. You don’t really make your own sentences with this and it’s not as common as you’d think at the beginner level.
Pay close attention to the sentences in the link I sent. おもさ is the word for “weight” and ふかさ is the word for “depth”. サイズ can also be おおきさ etc etc
I’d learn these as separate vocab words rather than just trying to wrap your head around a zero context さ formula