様よう相そう

よ

う

そ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Describes the outward appearance, state, or phase of a situation, phenomenon, or process. Common in news, analysis, and formal writing.

事じ件けんは新あらたな様よう相そうを見みせ始はじめた。
The incident began to show a new aspect.
経けい済ざいの様よう相そうが大おおきく変かわった。
The condition of the economy changed dramatically.

noun

modality

philosophy

Technical philosophical term for the mode or manner in which something exists or is experienced. Not used in everyday conversation.

カント哲てつ学がくでは、様よう相そうは存そん在ざいのあり方かたを指さす。
In Kantian philosophy, modality refers to the manner of being.

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Usage patterns

〈事こと〉が〈名めい詞し〉の様よう相そうを帯おびるfor a situation to take on the character/aspect of something
交こう渉しょうは長ちょう期き戦せんの様よう相そうを帯おびてきた。
The negotiations have started to take on the character of a protracted struggle.
様よう相そうが一いっ変ぺんするfor the overall situation/aspect to change completely
事じ故この発はっ生せいで現げん場ばの様よう相そうが一いっ変ぺんした。
The scene changed completely after the accident occurred.
複ふく雑ざつな様よう相そうを見みせるfor a situation to show/develop a complex appearance
問もん題だいはますます複ふく雑ざつな様よう相そうを見みせている。
The problem is showing an increasingly complex aspect.

Expressions

様よう相そうを呈ていするtake on an appearance; assume an aspect

Kanji

様Esq., way, manner
相inter-, mutual, together

Related words

状じょう態たいN3sense 1
状態 is the everyday, neutral word for a 'state' or 'condition', while 様相 is more formal and often implies a complex or evolving outward appearance.
局きょく面めん sense 1
局面 highlights a specific phase or turning point in a process, whereas 様相 refers more broadly to the overall look or character of a situation.
情じょう勢せいN1sense 1
情勢 focuses on the trend or direction of affairs (often political or social), while 様相 describes the outward form or appearance a situation is taking.
形けい勢せいN1sense 1
形勢 describes relative advantage or standing in a contest or struggle, while 様相 is a broader term for how a situation looks or is unfolding.

Don't confuse with

様よう子すN4sense 1
様子 is a common, everyday word for the visible 'look' or condition of something, while 様相 is a more formal, often abstract term used in analytical or written contexts.
様さま変がわり
様相 means the outward aspect or state of something at a given moment, while 様変わり describes the act of that aspect changing dramatically.

Word family

様よう相そう論ろん理り
modal logic
様よう相そう論ろん理り学がく
modal logic
表ひょう示じ様よう相そう源げんフラグ
aspect source flag; ASF
基き本ほん要よう素その表ひょう示じ様よう相そう
aspects of primitives

Etymology

Compound of 様 (よう, 'appearance, manner') and 相 (そう, 'aspect, phase'). The combination has been used in formal and academic Japanese to denote the outward aspect or modality of something.