Onyomi: ショウ, ヨウ · Kunyomi: さま, さん · Meanings: Esq., manner, polite suffix, situation, way
Kanji for esq, manner, polite suffix, situation, way
Fast lookup with examples and clean stroke-order visualization.
Experience 様 in 3D! View the complete 3D Kanji model to understand its shape and stroke depth from every angle. Click the button below to see 様 in 3D and explore how each stroke forms this character.
Please support us by sharing!
様 is formed from 木, meaning “tree,” and 羊, meaning “sheep,” combined with elements suggesting appearance and form. Originally, it referred to the way something looks or presents itself, like the shape and condition of living things. Because people judge things by how they appear, the idea expanded to mean manner, form, or condition. From this idea, 様 also came to be used as a polite title when referring to others, showing respect.
様 represents the way something looks or presents itself, its form or manner.
Imagine carefully looking at the shape and appearance of something to judge its condition. That outward form or manner is 様.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 様 | よう | appearing ..., looking ... | common JLPT-N3 Noun, used as a suffix, Noun |
| 様 | さま | Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms | common JLPT-N1 Suffix |
| 様 | ざま | mess, sorry state, plight, sad sight | Noun |
| ちゃま | ちゃま | Mr., Mrs., Miss | Suffix |
| 例 | ためし | precedent, example | JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 様々 | さまざま | various, varied, diverse, all sorts of | common JLPT-N3 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 様子 | ようす | state (of affairs), situation, circumstances | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 様式 | ようしき | style, form, pattern | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 様相 | ようそう | aspect, phase, condition | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 容態 | ようだい | condition, state (of health), appearance | Noun |