まま (mama) Meaning Japanese Grammar - As It Is

The term まま (mama) means as it is and refers to the current state of things, without changing.

It is used to express something as it is and also a lack of change.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of まま and ままに, how they are formed, and when they are used through real example sentences.

How まま is formed

まま is a suffix and you can find combined with verbs, nouns or adjectives as follows:

In the case of the verb, it is generally used the past form. まま has its own kanji 儘(まま), but it is more common the writing in katakana.

How ad when まま is used

まま refers to things that remain in a state, that keep the same and leave unchanged.

Demonstrative adjective with まま

A very common use of this term is in combination of the so-called kosoado series: the Japanese demonstrative adjectives and pronouns.

• このまま kono mama like this
• そのまま sono mama just like that, that way
• あのまま ano mama just like that, that way

The demonstrative is often obmitted in the translation that would be: Go straight ahead this way.

ままに

We can find the term まま followed by the particle に that turns the noun into an adverb.

ままに is synonym of 〜とおりに or 〜にしたがって that means according to...

From the Internet

生のまま nama no mama: 生(なま) is a noun in Japanese meaning raw, uncooked, fresh and it is followed by the particle の

KanjiNo FuriganaKanaRomaji

生(なま)のまま冷(れい)凍(とう)できる野(や)菜(さい)と冷(れい)凍(とう)できない野(や)菜(さい)

Vegetables that can be frozen raw and vegetables that cannot be frozen

Examples with まま and ままに

The meaning of the sentence is that the Museum is still closed today.

In this sentence it has been used the verb in the present tense and ままに* in the meaning of according to...

気が向く or 気の向く is an expression that uses the word and concept 気 ki (energy, nature, mood, disposition) and means: to feel like; to feel inclined to do, as I please to.