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仕様 (しよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 2,000 Meanings 1
noun
way ; means ; remedy
An older or set-phrase use meaning a way to do something or a remedy. In modern Japanese it is most familiar in expressions such as 仕様がない or よりほかに仕様がない, meaning that there is no other way or nothing can be done.
たら
、
やっ
て
みる
より
ほか
に
仕し
様よう
が
ない
。
Having come this far, there is nothing to do but try.
2
noun
specification ; specifications
Common technical and business use for the defined features, requirements, or design details of a product, system, document, or service.
Written forms 仕し 様よう Usage 54%
Standard modern kanji spelling. Very common for technical or product specifications, and also used in fixed expressions such as 仕様がない.
しよう Usage 46%
仕し 樣よう
out-dated kanji form
Outdated kyūjitai-style spelling using 樣; included mainly for reading older texts or search.
Similar words 仕し 方かた More common in everyday language for 'way' or 'method,' especially in 仕方がない. 仕様 is now more limited in this meaning and often feels set-phrase-like.
規き 格かく Means a standard or official norm that something conforms to. 仕様 refers to the concrete specifications or details of a particular product or system.
スペック A casual loanword often used for performance, capacity, or product features. 仕様 is the more formal and technical term for specifications.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound read しよう. 仕 is associated with doing or serving, and 様 with manner, form, or state; together the word originally fits the idea of a 'way/manner of doing,' later extending to technical 'specification.' The spelling 仕樣 uses the older form 樣 for 様.
