Use of "sugi" [Archive] - Japan Forum

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rquethe
May 10, 2004, 02:12
I just have a question if you can do this and it be alright. I'll use the example "too expensive."

It would be 高すぎる, but would it be alright to omit the る? If it is alright to do so, does it change the meaning or nuance slightly? And does it apply to all i-adj, NA-adj, and verbs just as well?

PaulTB
May 10, 2004, 06:15
I just have a question if you can do this and it be alright. I'll use the example "too expensive."

It would be 高すぎる, but would it be alright to omit the る?
I'd expect so - and I can easily check ;-)

Yup - if you do the right Altavista search (http://www.altavista.com/web/results?q=%E9%AB%98%E3%81%99%E3%81%8E+-%E9%AB%98%E3%81%99%E3%81%8E%E3%82%8B&kgs=1&kls=0) there are plenty of examples like ...

でも¥1、800 は高すぎ?
理由は、高すぎ。
この界隈から離れてたけどやっぱりこの界隈レベル高す ぎ。

If it is alright to do so, does it change the meaning or nuance slightly?
It changes the relevant grammar.

高すぎ is the -ます base of 高すぎる. As such it either acts as a 'noun form', as a (written, I think) alternative to the -て connective used to join sentences or various other ways that -ます bases are used.

And does it apply to all i-adj, NA-adj, and verbs just as well?
All verbs have a -ます base form - although some are much more sensible to use than others.
All adjective bases + すぎる also have a -ます base form.

rquethe
May 10, 2004, 06:42
So I guess mostly, what I am curious about, is conversationally, is it okay to comment on things like this?

"samusugi." vs. "samusugiru."
"atsusugi." vs. "atsusugiru."
"urusasugi." vs. "urusasugiru." etc...

Like I already knew it could be used like for things with pre-masu forms... Like, "わさびを食べすぎことがありますか。

It sounds like it is from what you said though. I just wanted to make sure I don't sound silly if I say stuff like that.

Thanks so much! :)