turns adjectives into nouns (-ness)

Replacing the い of an i-adjective with さ makes a noun of degree: 高い becomes 高さ (height), 重い becomes 重さ (weight). Na-adjectives add さ to the stem: 便利さ. The result can be measured, asked about, and used with particles like any noun.

Examples

• 夏なつの暑あつさが苦手にがてです。

  Natsu no atsusa ga nigate desu.

  I have a hard time with the summer heat.

• このプールの深ふかさは二にメートルです。

  Kono puuru no fukasa wa ni meetoru desu.

  The depth of this pool is two meters.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 夏 summer
• 苦手 poor at, not one's strong point
• この this (+ noun)
• プール swimming pool
• 二 two

Related patterns · Word formation

• 〜すぎる too much, excessively
• 〜やすい easy to do
• 〜にくい hard to do
• 〜方 way of doing, how to do