～まま (as it is, remaining)

• Reading: まま
• Romaji: mama
• Formation: Verb た-form + まま / Noun + の + まま / い-Adj + まま / な-Adj + な + まま

Meaning

An expression indicating that an already given situation or condition remains unaltered. The state established by the first clause persists unchanged while the second clause takes place.

まま follows verbs in た-form (ドアを開けたまま — with the door left open), nouns with の (そのまま — as it is), and い-adjectives directly. It indicates that a state, usually one that should have changed, persists. This often carries a nuance of something being left in an undesirable or unexpected state (靴を履いたまま家に入った — entered the house with shoes still on). The expression そのまま is very common, meaning 'leave it as it is' or 'just like that.' まま can also be used idiomatically in phrases like なすがまま (leaving things as they happen). Note that まま describes a continuing state, not an ongoing action.

Examples

1. 電気をつけたまま寝てしまった。 I fell asleep with the light on.
2. 窓を開けたまま出かけないでください。 Please don't go out with the window open.
3. この服は買った時のまま着ていない。 I haven't worn these clothes since I bought them.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• テレビをつけたまま寝てしまった。
• そのままにしておいてください。
• 座ったままで結構です。
• 昔のままの風景が残っている。

Don't Say

• 電気をつけるまま寝た。(まま requires た-form for verbs — use つけたまま) → 電気をつけたまま寝た。
• 靴のまま入ってください。(Noun before まま needs の only when it's a general noun; 靴のまま is correct but the sentence is awkward — use 靴を履いたまま for clarity) → 靴を履いたまま入ってください。

Origin & History

まま originally meant 'as things are' and has been used since the Heian period. It derives from a noun meaning 'state' or 'condition,' and its core sense of an unchanged situation has remained consistent throughout Japanese language history.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal