Japanese word

様々

Pronunciation

Romajisamazama

Meaning

  • na-adjectivevarious

Example

様々な色があります。sama zama na iro ga a ri ma su

There are various colors.

Illustration for 様々 (various)

More examples

図書館には様々な本があります。to sho kan ni wa sama zama na hon ga a ri ma su

There are various books in the library.

様々な方法を試してみましょう。sama zama na hō hō o tame shi te mi ma shō

Let's try various methods.

Core concept

Describes a wide range of different kinds rather than one single kind.

Common phrases

  • 様々な色sama zama na iro

    various colors

  • 様々な場面sama zama na ba men

    various situations

  • 様々な人sama zama na hito

    various people

Similar words

いろいろiroiro: Describes a range of different kinds in everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

一つに限らず、いろいろな種類や状態があるさま。hito tsu ni kagi ra zu i ro i ro na shu rui ya jō tai ga a ru sa ma

Word origin

様々 (samazama) repeats 様 (sama, "appearance or kind"), and the repetition gives the sense of many different kinds.

Usage tips

  • 様々 (samazama) is placed before a noun with な (na), as in 様々な方法 (samazama na hōhō).

Other meanings

  • all sorts ofna-adjective
  • variedna-adjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word