Japanese word

模様

Pronunciation

Romajimoyō

Meaning

  • nounpattern

Example

このシャツには模様があります。ko no sha tsu ni wa mo yō ga a ri ma su

This shirt has a pattern.

Illustration for 模様 (pattern)

More examples

この服には花の模様があります。ko no fuku ni wa hana no mo yō ga a ri ma su

This shirt has a flower pattern.

私は花の模様が入ったバッグを選びました。watashi wa hana no mo yō ga hai tta ba ggu o era bi ma shi ta

I chose a bag with a floral pattern.

Core concept

Describes an arranged visual form of colors, shapes, or lines that appears on a surface.

Common phrases

  • 模様が入るmo yō ga hai ru

    have a pattern

  • 模様があるmo yō ga a ru

    have a pattern

  • 模様を描くmo yō o ega ku

    draw a pattern

  • 模様を変えるmo yō o ka e ru

    change the pattern

  • 模様を付けるmo yō o tsu ke ru

    add a pattern

Similar words

柄gara: A decorative design on fabric or another surface.
文様monyō: A formal or traditional decorative design made from repeated shapes.
図柄zugara: A particular picture or design shown on a surface.
パターンpatān: A repeated arrangement of shapes, colors, or lines.

Definition in Japanese

物の表面などに施された、色や形の組み合わせ。mono no hyō men na do ni hodoko sa re ta iro ya katachi no ku mi a wa se

Word origin

The word 模様 (moyō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 模 (mo, "model") and 様 (yō, "appearance"), combining the ideas of a model and an outward form.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 模様 (moyō) can also describe how events are unfolding, as in 会議の模様 (kaigi no moyō), "how the meeting is going," which extends the idea of an observable appearance.

Other meanings

  • designnoun

Word lists with this word