Nominalization: 〜koto・〜no・〜sa・〜mi・〜kata — Five Ways to Turn Verbs/Adjectives into Nouns (N4-N3) [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“泳ぐことが好き” vs “泳ぐのが好き” vs “優しさ” vs “痛み” — choosing nominalization precisely
「高さ」「書き方」 — five ways to turn verbs and adjectives into nouns
「話すこと」「話すの」「高さ」「温かみ」「書き方」 — Japanese has five ways to “nominalize” verbs and adjectives, each with a specialty: 〜こと (abstract, conceptual), 〜の (concrete, colloquial), 〜さ (degree, measurable), 〜み (feeling, texture), 〜方 (way of doing). The wrong one sounds off. This guide sorts the five at once and clears up the often-confused 「こと vs の」 and 「さ vs み」.
Five nominalizers, each with a specialty
- 〜こと = action／matter (abstract, written): 話すことが大切だ.
- 〜の = action (concrete, colloquial): 走るのが好き.
- 〜さ = degree, quantifiable (adjective→noun): 高さ, 大きさ, 優しさ.
- 〜み = feeling, texture (adjective→noun, more subjective): 温かみ, 深み, 痛み.
- 〜方 = way of doing (ます-stem ＋ 方): 書き方, 使い方, 考え方.
The five nominalizers
| Way | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜こと | abstract, conceptual, written | 話すこと |
| 〜の | concrete, immediate, colloquial | 走るの |
| 〜さ | degree, measurable | 高さ |
| 〜み | feeling, texture (subjective) | 温かみ |
| 〜方 | way of doing | 書き方 |
See it in context
- 日本語を話すことが難しい。(Speaking Japanese is hard.) — こと (abstract)
- 彼が走るのを見た。(I saw him running.) — の (concrete perception)
- この山の高さは3776メートルだ。(This mountain's height is 3,776 m.) — さ (degree)
- 彼女の優しさに感動した。(I was moved by her kindness.) — さ (degree)
- この漢字の書き方を教えて。(Show me how to write this kanji.) — 方 (way)
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① After perception verbs use の (not こと). 走るのを見た (✗ 走ることを見た). Seeing/hearing a concrete scene takes の.
② さ (degree) vs み (feeling). さ = objective degree, measurable (高さ = height, 優しさ = degree of kindness); み = subjective feeling, texture (温かみ = a sense of warmth, 深み = a sense of depth). 「高さ」 is measurable height; 「高み」 is an abstract height (a peak/level).
③ 「方」 attaches to the ます-stem. 書き方 (✗ 書く方 for a “way”), 使い方. Make the ます-form, drop ます, add 方.
🔄 Nuance & comparison: こと vs の／さ vs み
| Contrast | Difference | Example |
|---|---|---|
| こと vs の | こと abstract/written, の concrete/colloquial | 話すこと／走るの |
| さ vs み | さ measurable degree, み subjective feeling | 高さ／温かみ |
| こと vs 方 | こと = matter, 方 = way of doing | 話すこと／話し方 |
💡 Quick takeaway
The five nominalizers each have a specialty; remember the key division: こと = abstract concept (話すことが大切), の = concrete/colloquial (走るのが好き), さ = measurable degree (高さ・優しさ), み = subjective feeling/texture (温かみ・痛み), 方 = way of doing (書き方・考え方). Top errors: ① after perception verbs, only の (見る・聞く); ② don't mix さ and み (さ objective, み subjective); ③ 方 attaches to the ます-stem (書き方). The most useful is 「〜方 (a way)」 — asking 「使い方」「書き方」「行き方」 is super handy in Japan.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: こと vs の?
Big rule: 「の」 leans concrete, immediate, colloquial (especially after perception verbs, only の: 泣いているのを見た); 「こと」 leans abstract, conceptual, written, and fixed patterns take only こと (〜ことができる, 〜ことがある, 趣味は〜こと). When interchangeable, の is most natural in speech. See the 〈こと vs の〉 guide for details.
Q: さ vs み?
「〜さ」 = objective, measurable degree (高さ = height, 大きさ = size, 重さ = weight, 優しさ = degree of kindness); 「〜み」 = subjective feeling, texture (温かみ = a sense of warmth, 深み = a sense of depth, 痛み = pain, うまみ = savoriness/umami). From the same adjective: 「高さ」 is measurable height, 「高み」 is an abstract height. Quantify → さ; convey a feeling／texture → み.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「彼が走る___を見た。」(I saw him running — concretely witnessed)
(A) こと (B) の (C) さ (D) み
Q2. 「この漢字の書き___を教えてください。」(Please teach me how to write this kanji)
(A) こと (B) の (C) 方 (D) さ
Q3. 「彼女の優し___に感動した。」(I was moved by her kindness — the degree of kindness → noun)
(A) の (B) さ (C) み (D) こと
Q4. 「〜こと」と「〜の」の核心差異は？
(A) exactly the same, interchangeable
(B) こと: abstract, conceptual, written; の: concrete, sensory, colloquial
(C) こと: past; の: present
(D) こと: only in negative sentences; の: affirmative sentences
Q5. 「日本語を話す___が難しい。」(Speaking Japanese is hard — general concept)
(A) の (B) こと (C) さ (D) よう
Answer Explanations
1. (B) の ── 「彼が走るのを見た」(I saw him running) = の is used for concrete, sensory, on-the-scene feeling, expressing actually 'seeing' a specific scene. こと doesn't suit 「見た」 (seeing an abstract thing? unnatural).
2. (C) 方 ── 「書き方」(way of writing) = verb ます-stem (書き) + 方 (かた) = the way to do ~. It's the most common nominalization at N4.
3. (B) さ ── 「彼女の優しさに感動した」(I was moved by her kindness) = the i-adjective 「優しい」→ 優し + さ, a nominalization expressing degree/quality; a set expression. (C) み (優しみ) is rarely used; (A) の / (D) こと don't fit here.
4. (B) ── こと: abstract concept (泳ぐことが好き = liking the idea of swimming, a general concept); の: concrete/sensory (泳ぐのが好き = liking the feel of swimming, more colloquial), and の can pair with sensory verbs like 「見る・聞く」, whereas こと cannot.
5. (B) こと ── 「日本語を話すことが難しい」(speaking Japanese is hard) = a statement of a general concept → こと. の (A) is also common in speech, but for this question's 'general concept' context こと fits best; (C) さ / (D) よう don't fit.