Let’s learn Japanese with Anzu’s quote from Hinamatsuri.
CONTENTS
Video
Anzu’s Quote
Japanese: 立ったまま寝てる！！！
Romaji: tatta mama neteru!!!
English: She’s asleep standing up!!!
Analysis
まま following a verb ta-form means “while doing something” or “in a certain state”.
立った is the ta-form of a verb 立つ meaning “to stand up” so 立ったまま means “while standing up”.
There is a similar word to まま which is ながら. It’s also translated as “while doing something“ but they are not usually interchangeable.
ながら following the stem of a verb masu-form is used when two actions take place at the same time, whereas まま is used for an ongoing state that exists while the main action is taking place. So 立ったまま寝てる shows that she is in the state of standing up while doing the main action.
Lastly, 寝てる is more casual than 寝ている which consists of the te-form of a verb 寝る meaning “to sleep” and a subsidiary verb いる meaning “to stay still”. A verb te-form followed by いる describes a continuing state resulting from the earlier action. So you fall asleep (寝る) and the state of sleeping is continuing (寝ている) at the time of statement.
Examples
Verb Ta-Form + まま (while …ing/in a certain state)
座ったまま聞いてください。
suwatta mama kiite kudasai.
Please listen sitting down.
コンタクトをつけたまま寝てしまった。
kontakuto o tsuketa mama nete shimatta.
I unintentionally fell asleep with my contacts in.
母はいつもパジャマを着たまま、朝ごはんを食べる。
haha wa itsumo pajama o kita mama, asagohan o taberu.
My mother always eats breakfast with her pyjamas on.
- まま often becomes まんま in casual speech.
- で can be added which emphasises “IN the ongoing state” (立ったままで寝てる).
- Verb Te-form also has the meaning “in a certain state”, but まま is usually used for something unusual/uncommon/unintentional.
To sleep with lights off – usual/common/intentional
- – 電気を (○) 消して寝る (Correct)
- – 電気を (×) 消したまま寝る (Wrong)
To sleep with lights on – unusual/uncommon/unintentional
- – 電気を (△) つけて寝る (Unnatural)
*If it’s intentionally done, (e.g. because you can’t sleep in the dark) it’s correct.- – 電気を (○) つけたまま寝る (Correct)
- The verbs used with まま are the actions which take place instantaneously and change the state (a.k.a. 瞬間動詞 – “Momentary Verb” such as 立つ, 座る, 開ける, 閉める, etc).
- 立ちながら is grammatically wrong as 立つ is 瞬間動詞 but nowadays the usage is being accepted, including 座りながら and 寝ながら.
座りながら話しましょう。
suwari nagara hanashimashō.
Let’s talk while sitting.
Verb Te-Form + いる (Continuing State)
車が信号で止まっている。
kuruma ga shingō de tomatte iru.
A car is stopped at a traffic light.
ちょっと黙ってて。
chotto damatte te.
Keep quiet for a moment.
お祈り中はいつも目を閉じている。
oinorichū wa itsumo me o tojite iru.
While praying, I always keep my eyes closed.
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