What is the Kanji for "Way" and "Form"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Way" and "Form", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Way" and "Form" is "様".

This kanji has 2 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Sama".

Its onyomi reading is "You".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 3 parts:

The kanji "木" means "Tree" and "Wood" and can be read as "Boku", "Ki", "Moku", and "Ko". The kanji "羊" means "Sheep" and can be read as "You" and "Hitsuji". And The radical "氺" means "Water" .

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "様" mean in japanese?

"様" means "Way" and "Form".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N3 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

様: "Kind". The Japanese word '様 (よう)' is an adjectival noun that means 'kind'. It is used to show respect or politeness when addressing someone, often as a suffix added to a person's name or title. It conveys a sense of deference and regard for the person being addressed. For example: Sensei-sama - (先生様 先生ねぇ), Sakura-sama - (さくら様 さくらの方)

様子: "Situation". The noun '様子 (ようす)' means 'situation'. It refers to the state, condition, or circumstances of something. This word is commonly used to describe the current state of affairs, the way things are going, or how a particular situation is unfolding. For example: What is the situation? - (様子はどうですか). The situation is unclear - (様子がよくわかりません).

同様: "Similar" or "Likewise". The adjectival noun '同様 (どうよう)' means 'similar' or 'likewise'. It is used to indicate that something shares the same qualities or characteristics as something else. This word can be used to compare two nouns or to state that an action or situation is comparable to another. For example: The two books are similar - (その2冊の本は同様である). I will do the same - (私も同様にやります).

仕様: "Specification". The noun '仕様 (しよう)' means 'specification'. It refers to a detailed description of the design, construction, and performance characteristics of a product, service, or system. '仕様' is commonly used in the context of engineering, technology, and manufacturing to define the required standards, features, and functionalities. For example: The product specifications were updated - (製品の仕様が更新された). These specifications must be followed closely - (これらの仕様に正確に従わなければならない).

皆様: "Everyone". The Japanese noun '皆様 (みなさま)' means 'everyone'. It is a polite and formal way to refer to a group of people, and is often used in business or professional settings. It conveys a sense of respect and inclusion. For example: Everyone, thank you for your hard work - (皆様、ご努力ありがとうございます).

多様: "Variety" or "Diversified". The Japanese adjectival noun '多様 (たよう)' refers to something that is diverse, varied, or having many different forms, types or aspects. It can describe a broad range of things, from products, people, environments, or even ideas. The word suggests a sense of heterogeneity and richness within a certain context. For example: The company offers a diverse range of products - (その会社は多様な製品を提供しています). Our classroom has students with diverse backgrounds - (私たちのクラスには多様な背景の学生がいます).

様々: "Various". The Japanese adjective '様々 (さまざま)' means 'various'. It is used to describe a diverse range of things or options. It conveys the idea of multiplicity, diversity, and a lack of uniformity. For example: There are various opinions on this topic - (この問題についてはさまざまな意見がある). I have various hobbies - (私にはさまざまな趣味があります).

模様: "Pattern". The noun '模様 (もよう)' means 'pattern'. This word is used to describe a decorative or aesthetic design, such as on clothing, furniture, or in nature. It can refer to a repeated, structured arrangement of shapes, colors, or textures. For example: The kimono had a beautiful floral pattern - (着物に美しい花の模様があった). The butterfly has intricate patterns on its wings - (蝶の羽には複雑な模様がある).

様式: "Style". The Japanese noun '様式 (ようしき)' means 'style'. This word refers to the distinctive design, form, or appearance of something, such as a building, piece of art, or way of doing things. It can indicate the characteristic manner in which something is executed or performed. For example: traditional Japanese architectural style - (日本の伝統的な建築様式). The style of this painting is quite unique - (この絵画の様式はとてもユニークです).

神様: "God". The Japanese noun '神様 (かみさま)' refers to a divine, supernatural being that is worshipped and revered in the Shinto and Buddhist religions in Japan. It is a respectful and honorific way to refer to a deity or higher power. '神様' is commonly used to address Shinto deities or Buddhist bodhisattvas. For example: I will pray to the gods - (神様に祈ります). The god has blessed us - (神様に祝福されました).

王様: "King". The Japanese noun '王様 (おうさま)' refers to a male monarch or sovereign ruler of a kingdom. It is often used to refer to the head of state in a monarchy. The term conveys a sense of respect and authority. For example: The king greeted his subjects - (王様は臣民に挨拶した). She will become the next queen after the king's passing - (王様の逝去後、彼女が次の女王になる).

奥様: "Wife". The noun '奥様 (おくさま)' means 'wife'. This term is a polite way to refer to one's own wife or another person's wife. It conveys respect and formality. For example: My wife is at home - (私の奥様は家にいます). The president's wife attended the event - (大統領の奥様がその行事に出席しました).

有り様: "State". The Japanese noun '有り様 (ありさま)' means 'state'. It refers to the way something is, its current condition or circumstances. It can be used to describe the state of affairs, a situation, or the way things are. For example: The current state of the economy - (経済の有り様). The state of the house after the renovations - (改装後の家の有り様).

異様: "Strange" or "Bizarre". The word '異様 (いよう)' is an adjectival noun meaning 'strange' or 'bizarre'. It can be used to describe something that is unusual, peculiar, or unsettling. This word often carries a sense of unease or discomfort about the subject being described. For example: The atmosphere in the room was strange - (その部屋の雰囲気は異様だった). The bizarre behavior of the suspect shocked the police - (容疑者の奇妙な行動は警察を驚かせた).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "よ" is read as "yo". The hiragana "う" is read as "u". The hiragana "さ" is read as "sa". And The hiragana "ま" is read as "ma".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.