N3 Actions in Progress or State

~まま: meaning, usage and examples

~まま means: in the state of... / with... on.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. くつをはいたまま、部屋へやに入はいらないでください。

   Don't enter the room with your shoes on.

2. 窓まどを開あけたまま、寝ねてしまった。

   I fell asleep with the window still open.

3. めがねをかけたまま、お風呂ふろに入はいってしまいました。

   I got into the bath with my glasses still on.

4. このケーキは冷つめたいまま食たべてください。

   Please eat this cake while it is still cold.

When to use it

Means a state stays unchanged while something else happens, or something stays the way it is: "with ... still on," "as it is." Use it for doing something without changing a state (めがねをかけたまま寝ねる), or for things that have not changed (昔むかしのまま).

Nuance

Neutral; it describes a state without blame, though the situation is often odd or careless in context. Use the た-form for an action already done whose result continues. このままにする means "leave it as it is."

Compare

Compare まま with っぱなし: 窓まどを開あけたままにする (leave the window open, neutral) vs 窓まどを開あけっぱなしにする (left open carelessly, with blame). Compare まま with て: くつをはいて入はいる just links two actions, while くつをはいたまま入はいる stresses the state that should have changed.

Tip: Common mistake: using the dictionary form. Say 電気でんきをつけたまま, not 電気でんきをつけるまま. For "leave it as is," say このままにしてください.