様 means “honorific, manner, state”

さま · sama

Also: Esq., way, situation

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さま, さん

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヨウ, ショウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 14 strokes

The story

A tree (木), a sheep (羊) and flowing water (氺): picture a calm scene, everything in good order. 様 is the politest title in Japanese, from お客様 to 神様 to the 田中様 on an envelope, and it also means how things look: 様子.

Used in お客様 (okyakusama, customer), 様子 (yousu, state/appearance), and 様々 (samazama, various)

More from Manners & Welcome

• 迎 welcome
• 寄 drop by
• 頼 request
• 招 invite
• 御 honorable
• 礼 courtesy
• 頂 receive (humble)
• 式 ceremony
• 供 offer
• 訪 visit
• 助 help
• 申 say (humble)

Learn 様 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.