Vます as a Noun

• 読み: ます
• ローマ字: masu
• 形: Verb ます-stem → Noun (e.g., 遊ぶ → 遊び, 帰る → 帰り)

意味

The ます-stem of a verb can function as a noun on its own, allowing verbs to be used in noun positions such as subjects, objects, or compounds.

Many Japanese nouns are derived directly from the ます-stem (連用形) of verbs. For example, 話す (to speak) becomes 話 (a story/talk), 休む (to rest) becomes 休み (a break/holiday), and 始める (to begin) becomes 始め (the beginning). This is one of the most productive word-formation processes in Japanese. Not every verb stem works naturally as a standalone noun — some are well-established in the lexicon while others sound forced. The nominalized form often takes on a slightly different or more specific meaning compared to the original verb. This pattern differs from the nominalizer こと or の in that Vます nouns are lexicalized and function as independent words.

例文

1. 最近、良い読みの本を探している。
2. 帰りに本屋に寄った。
3. この踊りは地元のお祭りで有名です。

使い方ガイド

場面: spoken, written, everyday

トーン: descriptive

正しい言い方

• 休みの日は何をしていますか。
• 行きはバスで、帰りは電車にした。
• お釣りはいりません。

避ける言い方

• 泳ぎが好きです。(While grammatical, 泳ぐこと or 水泳 is more natural for expressing a hobby) → 泳ぐことが好きです。
• 走りを毎日している。(走り is not commonly used as a standalone noun for the activity; use ランニング or 走ること) → ランニングを毎日している。

起源と歴史

The use of the 連用形 as a noun dates back to classical Japanese, where verb stems naturally functioned in nominal positions. Many modern nouns originated this way.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal