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Kotomora

状

status quo, conditions, circumstances, form, appearance

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 500Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

状 centers on the visible or describable state of something: its form, appearance, conditions, or circumstances. The idea of "status quo" is a specific application of a current condition.

Most common words using 状

23 of 602
  • 状態じょうたい
    N3

    state; condition; situation; appearance; circumstances

  • 状況じょうきょう
    N3

    state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances

  • 状じょう
    N2

    form; shape; appearance

  • 現状げんじょう
    N3

    present condition; existing state; status quo; current state

  • 症状しょうじょう
    N3

    symptoms; condition (of a patient)

  • 形状けいじょう

    shape; form

  • 甲状腺こうじょうせん

    thyroid (gland)

  • 年賀状ねんがじょう
    N4

    New Year's card

  • 環状かんじょう

    annulation; ring shape; loop shape

  • 病状びょうじょう
    N1

    condition of a patient; state of a disease; pathology

  • 令状れいじょう

    warrant; summons; written order

  • 惨状さんじょう

    disastrous scene; terrible spectacle

  • 白状はくじょう
    N1

    confession

  • 訴状そじょう

    petition; complaint; (legal) brief

  • 賞状しょうじょう
    N1

    certificate of merit; testimonial

  • 窮状きゅうじょう

    distress; wretched condition

  • 異状いじょう

    something wrong; something unusual; abnormality; disorder; trouble; change

  • 礼状れいじょう
    N1

    acknowledgment; acknowledgement; letter of thanks

  • 表彰状ひょうしょうじょう
    N1

    testimonial; certificate of commendation

  • 粒状りゅうじょう

    granular; granulated

  • 免状めんじょう

    licence; license; certificate; permit

  • 賀状がじょう

    New Year's card

  • 状況報告じょうきょうほうこく

    situation report; status report; progress report

Explore all words using 状 →

Study

Etymology

状 is the modern simplified form of 狀. The older form combines 爿 (a bed or board) with 犬 (dog), which together likely expressed the idea of a form or shape, possibly from a dog's posture or a written document. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 丬 suggests a board or frame, and the right side 犬 is a dog. Imagine a dog striking a pose on a board, showing its form and appearance—that's the state of things.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョウ, picture a dog (犬) showing its form while wearing a tiny "Joe" name tag: Joe -> ジョウ, and the dog's appearance tells you its condition.