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Kanji 様: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 様: Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix

Key takeaways

Kanji 様: Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

様
N3

Meaning

Esq.waymannersituationpolite suffix

On reading

ヨウショウ

Kun reading

さまさん

Radical

木

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 様

Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix

Kanji structure breakdown

様

Structure breakdown

木 + 羊 + 氺

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine the appearance of a sheep (羊) drinking water (氺) from a wooden (木) trough. This kanji represents the 'manner' or 'state' of things and is famously used as the polite honorific suffix '-sama' in Japanese.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ヨウ
  • 一様いちよう

    uniform / equal / consistent

  • 左様ならさようなら

    good-bye / farewell

  • 仕様しよう

    specification / method / system

  • 多様たよう

    diversity / variety

  • 様式ようしき

    style / form / pattern

  • 様相ようそう

    aspect / appearance / condition

  • 同様どうよう

    same / equal / identical

  • 模様もよう

    pattern / design / figure

Kun reading

さま
  • 有様ありさま

    state / condition / circumstances

  • お蔭様でおかげさまで

    thanks to you / fortunately

  • ご苦労様ごくろうさま

    Thank you for your effort

  • 様さま

    appearance / manner / polite title

  • 殿様とのさま

    feudal lord

  • 神様かみさま

    god / deity

  • 逆様さかさま

    upside down / inverted

  • 王様おうさま

    king

Commonly used words

  • 一様
    いちよう

    uniform / equal / consistent

  • 左様なら
    さようなら

    good-bye / farewell

  • 仕様
    しよう

    specification / method / system

  • 多様
    たよう

    diversity / variety

  • 様式
    ようしき

    style / form / pattern

  • 様相
    ようそう

    aspect / appearance / condition

  • 有様
    ありさま

    state / condition / circumstances

  • お蔭様で
    おかげさまで

    thanks to you / fortunately

  • ご苦労様
    ごくろうさま

    Thank you for your effort

  • 様
    さま

    appearance / manner / polite title

  • 殿様
    とのさま

    feudal lord

  • 神様
    かみさま

    god / deity

Example sentences

Example 1

部屋の有様を見て驚いた。

Translation

I was surprised to see the state of the room.

Example 2

事件の有様を詳しく説明した。

Translation

I explained the circumstances of the incident in detail.

Example 3

このシャツは色が一様だ。

Translation

This shirt has a uniform color.

Example 4

みんなの意見は一様ではない。

Translation

Everyone's opinions are not uniform.

Related word posts

Kanji 様: Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix | Daily Nihongo