様
様·manner, state, Mr./Ms. (polite)
- On-yomi
- ヨウ
- Kun-yomi
- さま
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 様子 | ようす | state, appearance, how things look |
| 皆様 | みなさま | everyone (polite) |
| お客様 | おきゃくさま | customer, guest |
| 同様 | どうよう | the same, likewise |
Example sentences
お客様がお待ちです。
おきゃくさまがおまちです。
A customer is waiting for you.
彼の様子が少しおかしいです。
かれのようすがすこしおかしいです。
He seems a bit off.
皆様、今日はありがとうございました。
みなさま、きょうはありがとうございました。
Thank you all for today.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Attaching 様 to your own name — it honours the other person only
- Writing 皆様 but reading it *かいよう; it is みなさま
Memory aid
Picture it
木 (tree) beside 羊 over flowing lines — the pattern in the grain, the 'way' a thing looks.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 様々さまざまvarious
- お疲れ様おつかれさまthank you for your work
- お陰様でおかげさまでthanks to you
- 模様もようpattern, design; state of affairs
- 王様おうさまking
- 様子ようすstate, appearance, look of things; sign, indication
- 様ようway, manner, kind
- 同様どうようidentical, equal to, same (kind), like
- 生物多様性せいぶつたようせいbiodiversity
- 逆様さかさまupside down, the wrong way round, inverted
- 神様かみさまGod, a god, deity
- 一様にいちようにuniformly, alike
Quick check
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What does the kanji 様 mean?