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形式名詞keishiki meishi is a special type of Parts of Speech in Japanese. While officially translated as formal noun, grammatically it would be more accurate to categorize it as a versatile placeholder that mainly undergoes a modification of nominalization.

The grammar summarized here are not verified by authority teachers. Some contents are collected from other books or websites, so all contents are for self learning only.

Translation used

• 名詞化: Nominalization, the process of turning a non-noun into a noun, exhibits overlap with formal nouns, which is similar to gerund in English. Not all nominalization are created by formal nouns.
• 連体形: the attributive form of conjugation, similar to the process of turning a verb into a present participle form in English grammar.
• 名詞節: noun clause, a dependent clause that functions grammatically like a noun in a sentence. They are created by nominalization.
• 副詞節: adverbial phrases that function as adverbs
• 活用katsuyo: Conjugation, a process that changes the base forms of words into another form, which is similar to participles in English.

What is formal noun/形式名詞とは

In contemporary Japanese grammar, some words that were historically nouns have developed grammatical functions, losting thier semantic meanings. These noun-derived words are termed formal noun (keishikimeishi) in Japanse.

For instance, the following sentence utilizes a formal noun “もの” to convert a verb phrase into a noun clause, while “もの” is derived from the Chinese character “物”.

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ご本人を確認できるものが必要です.
semanticly: to be able to confirm in person is required
naturally: it's required to be able to confirm in person.

Here is a break down

The sentence “確認できるものが必要です” is divided into

Formulas of formal nouns

While English primarily utilizes “to” and participles to nominalize non-noun phrases, Japanese employs an array of grammatical particles for nominalization with contextual information.

The first formula creates a noun clause via attributive modifying from verb or adjective phrases.
The second row creates an adverbial phrase, which is similar to because of or when

Additionally, the formula can apply recursively through stacking particles, such as adding の, to regain the adjectival capability, allowing for complex sentence formation.

E.g.

• 暖かいはずの冬木の気候は、ここ数日微妙に狂っているようだ。
• 私を殺したはずの男
• 登記されていないことの証明書

Full list of formal nouns

Not listed formal nouns

The followings are not listed in official books, but all of them technically fulfill the criteria of formal nouns.

• 必要(N4)：necesssary
• 結果(N3): result
• あまり(余り)：the remain. 補助動詞 (formal verb)・副詞 (adverb)
• 以上（いじょう）:
  • Because of. 副詞 (adverb)
  • Because: 接続助詞 (Conjunctive particle)

だけ/only

It was derived from the Chinese character “丈”, a unit of length, similar to “feet” in English.

Nowadays it is an auxiliary particle, translated as a focusing adverb “only” in English, to emphasis the limitation.

• きれいなだけの夜景に戻る
• 鍛錬していただけあって、居づらい空気ではなくなっている。
• Similarities: 副助詞 だけ、ばかり、ほど、など、である（called）

Formal noun v.s. Semantic noun

Grammarly they are hard to be distinguished because both of them play a role in forming noun clauses. However, kanji(漢字) can’t be technically used as a formal noun despite the misuse has filled up the internet. Followings are not formal nouns

• 申し訳
• やるべき事は変わらないな。
• 先にやるべき事があるだるう。
• 俺だって訳が判わからないんだ。

Additionally, formal noun can’t be a concrete reference.

• それだけは忘れるものか。

• それは貴様自身に使うものか?

• お届けものいたします

• 私の考え方

Others

という/called

It’s not a formal noun. See details here.

Other

The following list are all not formal verb

• 補助動詞：みる。
• 接続助詞：から/以上
• 助動詞：らしい・みたい・ごとし・として
• として: 君はマスターとして知識がなさすぎる As a master you only have limited

Cleft sentences in Japanese

In English grammar, the cleft sentence (分裂文) is used to emphasis a nominal(mainly for reasons). The formula “it is ~ that ~” or “the fact that” provides a placeholder to eleborate details. For instance

• It is exercise that makes him stronger
• With formal noun: 運動するおかげで強くなる
• Without: 運動するからには/以上は、強くなる

Reference

• ところ: http://blog.livedoor.jp/veritedesu/archives/1926640.html
• https://jn1et.com/formal-noun/
• 《現代日本語文法》
• https://www.tomojuku.com/blog/modifier2/
• 《形式名詞がこれでわかる》- https://www.hituzi.co.jp/hituzibooks/ISBN4-89476-191-2.htm
• https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2018/12/relative-clauses.html
• Some examples are from animations that I read many times.
• 近代日本語における名詞の文法化についての研究 https://ousar.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/files/public/6/60963/20201209140839810680/K0006287_fulltext.pdf
• https://niwasaburoo.amebaownd.com/posts/5733468/