What does “matsu” mean in Japanese?
There are some homophones, but native speakers say “matsu” often to mean ‘to wait’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is often used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “matsu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “matsu”
- Matanai: the nai form of “matsu”
- Matou: the volitional form of “matsu”
- Machimasu: the masu form of “matsu”
- Matta: the ta form of “matsu”
- Matte: the te form of “matsu”
- Mateba: the ba form of “matsu”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “matsu”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “matsu”.
- matsu – 待つ (まつ) : a verb meaning ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “wait” in Japanese
kanojo wa itsumo koko de kare wo matsu – 彼女はいつもここで彼を待つ (かのじょはいつもここでかれをまつ)
She always waits for him here.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kanojo” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a place close to the speaker.
- de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “koko” to say where “kanojo” always waits for “kare”.
- kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kare” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “matsu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to wait’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “matsu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “matanai”.
Matanai: the nai form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “matanai”.
- matanai – 待たない (またない) : the nai form of “matsu”, which means ‘not to wait’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “matanai” consists of the following two parts:
- mata – 待た (また) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “matanai” is literally the nai form of “matsu” and means ‘not to wait’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “doesn’t wait” in Japanese
kedo kare wa kanojo wo matanai – けど彼は彼女を待たない (けどかれはかのじょをまたない)
However, he doesn’t wait for her.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- kedo – けど : a conjunction meaning ‘however’, ‘but’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works at the beginning of the sentence to say “however” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “matanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to wait’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Matou: the volitional form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “matou”.
- matou – 待とう (まとう) : the volitional form of “matsu”, which expresses volition to wait.
Grammatically, “matou” consists of the following two parts:
- mato – 待と (まと) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “matou” is literally the volitional form of “matsu” and expresses volition to wait. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s wait” in Japanese
roku ji made kanojo wo matou – 六時まで彼女を待とう (ろくじまでかのじょをまとう)
Let’s wait for her until six o’clock.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- roku – 六 (ろく) : a numeral meaning ‘six’ in Japanese.
- ji – 時 (じ) : a suffix meaning ‘o’clock’ in Japanese.
- made – まで : an adverbial particle used to say when something ends. In the example, this is used after “roku ji” to say until when the action of waiting continues.
This is a typical usage of “matou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s wait” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Machimasu: the masu form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “machimasu”.
- machimasu – 待ちます (まちます) : the masu form of “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “machimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- machi – 待ち (まち) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part pf Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “machimasu” is literally the masu form of “matsu” and means ‘to wait’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “wait” politely in Japanese
karera wa soto de yoake wo machimasu – 彼等は外で夜明けを待ちます (かれらはそとでよあけをまちます)
They wait for the dawn outside.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese.
- soto – 外 (そと) : a noun meaning ‘outside’ in Japanese.
- yoake – 夜明け (よあけ) : a noun meaning ‘dawn’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “machimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “wait” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Matta: the ta form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “matta”.
- matta – 待った (まった) : the ta form of “matsu”, which means ‘waited’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “matta” consists of the following two parts:
- mat – 待っ (まっ) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “matta” is literally the ta form of “matsu” and means ‘waited’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “waited” in Japanese
boku wa heya de yoake wo matta – 僕は部屋で夜明けを待った (ぼくはへやでよあけをまった)
I waited for the dawn in the room.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- heya – 部屋 (へや) : a noun meaning ‘room’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
This is a typical usage of “matta”. When we want to say “waited” in Japanese, this ta form is a good option.
Matte: the te form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “matte”.
- matte – 待って (まって) : the te form of “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “matte” consists of the following two parts:
- mat – 待っ (まっ) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “matte” is literally the te form of “matsu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “matte” is very useful when we want to use “matsu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “wait and” in Japanese
kanojo wa itsumo kare no kaeri wo matte neru – 彼女はいつも彼の帰りを待って寝る (かのじょはいつもかれのかえりをまってねる)
She always waits for his return and then goes to bed.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kare” to make its possessive case, “kare no”, which means ‘his’ in Japanese.
- kaeri – 帰り (かえり) : a noun meaning ‘return’ in Japanese.
- neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to go to bed’ or ‘to sleep’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “matte”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “neru”. When we want to use “matsu” in front of another verb, its te form is very useful.
Mateba: the ba form of “matsu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “mateba”.
- mateba – 待てば (まてば) : the ba form of “matsu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “mateba” consists of the following two parts:
- mate – 待て (まて) : one conjugation of “matsu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “mateba” is literally the ba form of “matsu”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “mateba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to wait’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if wait” in Japanese
kare wo mateba, zutto matsu koto ni naru – 彼を待てば、ずっと待つことになる (かれをまてば、ずっとまつことになる)
If you wait for him, it means that you will wait for him forever.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- zutto – ずっと : an adverb meaning ‘forever’ or such in Japanese.
- koto – こと : a noun working after a phrase or sentence as a noun clause marker. In the example, this works after “zutto kare wo matsu” to make the noun clause in the sentence.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say what someone or something becomes after a change or action. In the example, this is used after the noun clause, “zutto kare wo matsu koto”, to indicate what the situation becomes.
- naru – なる : a verb meaning ‘to become’, ‘to get’, ‘to turn’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “mateba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kare wo mateba”, which means ‘if you wait for him’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to wait’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained “matsu” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- matsu – 待つ (まつ) : a verb meaning ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
- matanai – 待たない (またない) : the nai form of “matsu”, which means ‘not to wait’ in Japanese.
- matou – 待とう (まとう) : the volitional form of “matsu”, which expresses volition to wait.
- machimasu – 待ちます (まちます) : the masu form of “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ politely in Japanese.
- matta – 待った (まった) : the ta form of “matsu”, which means ‘waited’ in Japanese.
- matte – 待って (まって) : the te form of “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
- mateba – 待てば (まてば) : the ba form of “matsu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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