Formal or literary adjectival noun meaning 'in that manner' or 'such'. Often used in set phrases like さようなら (goodbye, from さようならば 'if it be so').
Formal interjection used to express agreement or acknowledgment, similar to 'that is correct' or 'just so'.
let me see; well now
Formal interjection used when pausing to think or recall something, similar to 'let me see' or 'well now'. Often used in polite or old-fashioned speech.
Well now, where shall I begin?
It is said that さようなら is an abbreviation of 左様ならば (if it be so).
His opinion is not so.
"Is this document correct?" "That is right."
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 左様 and 然様 are rare and literary.
Rare kanji spelling; mainly encountered in older texts.
Rare kanji spelling; mainly encountered in older texts.
Derived from classical Japanese さ (that way) + 様 (よう, manner/appearance). The kanji 左様 and 然様 are ateji; the word is now almost exclusively written in kana.