while still ~, as is

Intermediate

20-25 min

very common

Expert Reviewed

Explanation

Indicates remaining in a certain state without change.

[Verb た-form/Noun + の] + まま

靴を履いたまま家に入らないでください。

Kutsu wo haita mama ie ni hairanaide kudasai.

Please don't enter the house with your shoes still on.

テレビをつけたまま寝てしまった。

Terebi wo tsuketa mama nete shimatta.

I fell asleep with the TV still on.

The state described by まま remains unchanged throughout.

～てもいいです

may do ~, it's okay to do ~

～てはいけません

must not do ~, not allowed to do ~

～なければなりません

must do ~, have to do ~

～なくてもいいです

don't have to do ~, don't need to do ~

Common for describing unchanged states.

JLPTBooks Editorial Team

Japanese Language Education Specialists

Last updated: Jan 2

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