How are actor nouns formed from verbs


Are there general rules for forming nouns that refer to the one performing the
action of a verb, such as cut -> cutter, run -> runner, "Jack the Ripper",
etc.? I have been searching online but have only found guidance on forming
gerunds, possibly because I don't know the grammar terminology to ask the
right question.




There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you have to be familiar with many
patterns. To add to what Angelos have already mentioned, one important pattern
is [masu-stem as a
noun](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/32299/conjunctive-form-
e-g-%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D-vs-conj-mono-
e-g-%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D%E7%89%A9/32311#32311).

  * のぞく to peek / のぞき peeper
  * 魔法を使う to use magic / 魔法使い magic user → wizard
  * 相撲を取る to play sumō / 相撲取り sumō wrestler
  * 羊を飼う to raise sheep / 羊飼い sheep raiser → shepherd

"Jack the Ripper" is 切り裂きジャック in Japanese, and 切り裂き is the masu-stem of the
verb 切り裂く ("to rip/tear").




There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you have to be familiar with many
patterns. To add to what Angelos have already mentioned, one important pattern
is [masu-stem as a
noun](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/32299/conjunctive-form-
e-g-%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D-vs-conj-mono-
e-g-%E6%9B%B8%E3%81%8D%E7%89%A9/32311#32311).

  * のぞく to peek / のぞき peeper
  * 魔法を使う to use magic / 魔法使い magic user → wizard
  * 相撲を取る to play sumō / 相撲取り sumō wrestler
  * 羊を飼う to raise sheep / 羊飼い sheep raiser → shepherd

"Jack the Ripper" is 切り裂きジャック in Japanese, and 切り裂き is the masu-stem of the
verb 切り裂く ("to rip/tear").

