状
status quo, conditions, circumstances, form, appearance
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
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.