Japanese word

様子

Pronunciation

Romajiyōsu

Meaning

  • nounsituation

Example

私は様子を見ます。watashi wa yō su o mi ma su

I will check the situation.

Illustration for 様子 (situation)

More examples

教室の様子を見ます。kyō shitsu no yō su o mi ma su

I look at the situation in the classroom.

彼は朝から様子が変です。kare wa asa ka ra yō su ga hen de su

He has seemed strange since this morning.

Core concept

Covers both the condition of something and the visible signs that show how it is at a given moment.

Common phrases

  • 様子を見るyō su o mi ru

    check the situation

  • 様子がおかしいyō su ga o ka shi i

    something seems strange

  • 様子が変わるyō su ga ka wa ru

    the situation changes

Similar words

状態jōtai: The condition of a person or thing at a particular time.
具合guai: The physical condition of a person or the working condition of a thing.
模様moyō: The apparent state or expected course of an event.

Definition in Japanese

物事や人が置かれている状態、または外から見てわかるありさま。mono goto ya hito ga o ka re te i ru jō tai ma ta wa soto ka ra mi te wa ka ru a ri sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 様子 (yōsu, "state; appearance") is made from 様 (yō, "form; manner") and 子 (su), which functions as a noun-forming element in this compound.

Usage tips

  • The same word 様子 (yōsu) can describe a person's visible condition as well as the state of an event, so its meaning depends on what is being observed.

Other meanings

  • appearancenoun

Word lists with this word