素す性じょう

also: しゅせい · そせい

す

じょ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to a person's family background, ancestry, or social standing by birth. Often used in formal or historical contexts.

彼かれは素す性じょうの良よい家か柄がらの出しゅつだ。
He comes from a family of good lineage.
素す性じょうを調しらべると、彼かれは貴き族ぞくの血ちを引ひいていた。
Upon investigating his background, it turned out he was descended from nobility.

noun

identity; background; past

Focuses on a person's personal history, true identity, or past circumstances, often with an implication of something hidden or unknown. Common in phrases like 素性が知れない (of unknown background).

その男おとこは素す性じょうを隠かくして町まちに住すみ着ついた。
The man settled in the town hiding his true identity.
彼かの女じょは素す性じょうの知しれない人じん物ぶつを信しん用ようしなかった。
She didn't trust a person of unknown background.

noun

provenance; origin

Used for objects, artworks, or items to indicate their origin or history of ownership. Less common than the personal senses.

この骨こっ董とう品ひんは素す性じょうがはっきりしている。
This antique has a clear provenance.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の素す性じょうが知しれないsomeone's identity/background is unknown
その男おとこの素す性じょうが知しれないので、みんな警けい戒かいしていた。
Nobody knew the man's background, so everyone was on guard.
素す性じょうを隠かくすto hide one's identity/background
彼かれは素す性じょうを隠かくして田舎いなかに暮くらしていた。
He lived in the countryside, hiding his true identity.
素す性じょうを明あかすto reveal one's identity/background
彼かの女じょはついに自じ分ぶんの素す性じょうを明あかした。
She finally revealed her true identity.
素す性じょうを調しらべるto investigate someone's background
警けい察さつは容よう疑ぎ者しゃの素す性じょうを調しらべている。
The police are investigating the suspect's background.
〈物もの〉の素す性じょうthe provenance/history of an object
この壺つぼの素す性じょうは美び術じゅつ館かんの記き録ろくからわかった。
The provenance of this vase was determined from the museum's records.

Kanji

素elementary, principle, naked
性sex, gender, nature
姓surname
種species, kind, class
生life, genuine, birth

Related words· 6

身み元もとN1sense 2
身元 is used in official contexts like identity verification, while 素性 often implies a hidden or questionable background.
出しゅつ自じ sense 1
出自 refers formally to one's lineage or origin like 素性 does in its birth sense, but without the nuance of secrecy.
経けい歴れきN1sense 2
経歴 focuses on a person's career and life history, whereas 素性 emphasizes true identity or origin, often hidden.
生うまれN3sense 1
生まれ is a plain, everyday word for one's birth or origin, while 素性 is more formal and can carry a nuance of family standing.

Show 2 more

正しょう体たいN1
素性 refers to a person's background or lineage, whereas 正体 is broader, covering the true nature or identity of a person or thing, including disguises.
身み分ぶんN2
素性 stresses one's birth or lineage, often implying something hidden, whereas 身分 can simply mean one's current identity or status.

Don't confuse with

出しゅっ所しょ sense 3
出所 means the place an object or information comes from (or release from prison), while 素性 in this sense means an object's history of ownership or provenance.

Word family

氏うじ素す性じょう
family background; lineage
足あし素す性じょう原げん理り
foot feature convention; FFP

Written forms

素性Usage79%
- すじょう
  Standard spelling for the most common reading すじょう. Also read そせい in some contexts.
- そせい
素姓Usage18%
- すじょう
  Alternate kanji form, less common than 素性. Also has the obsolete reading すぞう.
- すぞう
  out-dated reading
種姓Usage2%
- しゅせい
  Rare kanji form with the reading しゅせい (also obsolete しゅしょう).
- すじょう
- しゅしょう
  out-dated reading
素生Usage1%
- そせい
  Rare kanji form, read そせい (also すじょう in some contexts).
- すじょう
すぞう
out-dated reading
そせい
しゅせい
しゅしょう
out-dated reading

Etymology

The bloodline sense developed from 種姓, originally しゅしょう, while 素性 separately meant “inherent nature.” Sound change and semantic overlap led to confusion between them, producing modern すじょう and its variant spellings.