よう

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Japanese

Etymology 1

For pronunciation and definitions of よう – see the following entries.
2
use (noun)
a task, business, an errand
for the use of, for the purpose of, in case of
2
sun, moon and stars
day of week
a female given name
3
a sheep (animal)
3
an ocean
(by extension, from the sense of across the ocean) the East (Orient) or especially the West (Occident)
a surname
a male or female given name
3
leaf, needle, blade (of a plant)
a season, an age: a shorter period of time within a longer one
an administration: the period of time during which a certain person holds a certain office
(rare) counter for flat, thin things such as leaves or paper
(by extension) counter for small boats
3
sun; sunlight; light
yang (in yin-yang)
positive; plus; male
open; overt
yang (in yin-yang)
open (visible space)
3
way, style, appearance
be like, look like, seem like, as if, having the likeness of
(as 様に (yō ni)) I hope; I pray; may
a female given name
4
key, important point
essential piece of something, requirement
4
to raise; to rear; to bring up
to support
5
to hold; to contain
to tolerate; to stand
content; substance
look; appearance
6
childhood, infancy
a young child
S
attractive
bewitching
S
ordinary; commonplace
S
to raise; to lift
to make well-known; to spread
S
shaking, swinging, trembling, vibrating
S
to melt, dissolve, thaw
S
hips, loins, lower back
S
to dance
to jump about; to jump up
S
to embrace; to protect
S
popular song
J
far off, distant
J
hire; employ
J
willow; poplar; aspen
耀J
shine, sparkle, gleam, twinkle
(This term, よう (), is the hiragana spelling of the above terms.)
For a list of all kanji read as よう, see Category:Japanese kanji read as よう.)

(The following entries are uncreated: , , , , , , , , , , , .)

Usage notes

Grammaticized () is most likely to be spelled in hiragana.

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of よう – see the following entry.
酔う
to get drunk, become intoxicated or inebriated, fall under the influence of alcohol
(figuratively) to become drunk or intoxicated (exhilarated) by something
to get motion sickness (as in carsick, airsick, seasick, etc.)
to get addicted
(archaic) to get poisoned (from eating meat or fish)
(archaic) to get distracted by charm
(This term, よう (), is the hiragana spelling of the above term.)
For a list of all kanji read as よう, see Category:Japanese kanji read as よう.)

Etymology 3

/mu//ũ//u/ → (for type 2 (ichidan) and type 3 (irregular) verbs) /joː/

From Classical Japanese suppositional / volitional / hortative suffix (-mu).

Pronunciation

Suffix

よう (-yōuninflectable

  1. volitional: expressing one's will or intention to do something
    そろそろ()ようSorosoro ne.I will go to bed before long.
    ()()しいものを()よう(おも)っています。
    Oishii mono o tabe to omotte imasu.
    I'm thinking I will eat something delicious.
  2. hortative: inducing or stimulating other person to do something
    そうしようSō shi.Let's do that.
    さあ、(はじ)ようSā, hajime.Let's get started.
  3. volitional: followed by する (to suru): to try to do; to attempt to do
    (ひと)(すぐ)ようとしています。
    Hito ni sugure to shite imasu.
    I am trying to surpass others.
  4. followed by する (to suru): to be about to do; to be on the verge of doing
    ()かけようとした(とき)(でん)()がかかってきた。
    Dekake to shita toki, denwa ga kakatte kita.
    I got a phone call when I was about to go out.
  5. (archaic, formal) suppositional: expressing what is likely the case
    Synonyms: だろう (darō), でしょう (deshō)
    (もん)(だい)はないと()よう
    Mondai wa nai to ie.
    We can probably say that there is no problem.
  6. (followed by (ga) or (to), often in parallel) whetheror
    • Blog|細井厚子の万華鏡|透明な花
      その(ねが)いが(かな)うなら、(わたし)(まん)()(きょう)がオモチャと()ばれようが、ガラクタと()ばれようが、そんなことはどうでもいいと(おも)っています。
      Sono negai ga kanau nara, watashi no mangekyō ga omocha to yobare ga, garakuta to yobare ga, sonna koto wa dō de mo ii to omotte imasu.
      I don't think I will be concerned whether my kaleidoscope is called a toy or rubbish, as long as that wish is fulfilled.
Usage notes

Attaches only to the 未然形 (mizenkei, irrealis or incomplete form) of type 2 (ichidan) and type 3 (irregular) verbs.

The volitional form of type 1 (godan) verbs are formed with (-u) instead of よう (-yō), with further sound changes.

In traditional Japanese grammar, this is a 助動詞 (jodōshi, auxiliary verb), with the sole form よう () as the 終止形 (shūshikei, terminal form) and the 連体形 (rentaikei, adnominal form). Morphologically, this is an uninflecting inflectional suffix attaching to the stem of vowel-stem verbs.

See also

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Interjection

よう (

  1. A very informal greeting similar to yo.
    よう(げん)()
    , genki?
    Yo! Howdy?
  2. A very informal (rude) interjection similar to hey.
    よう()てよ。
    , mateyo.
    Hey, wait.
Usage notes

Women or gentlemen generally use ねえ () instead of よう (). よう () is masculine but gives a rude impression at times; ねえ () is more graceful.

Synonyms

Etymology 5

Alternative spelling
良う

ウ音便 (u-onbin) of Standard Japanese () (yoku).

Pronunciation

Adjective

よう (

  1. Alternative form of よく (yoku)
    よう()たな。
    kita na.
    (please add an English translation of this example)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  2. 2.0 2.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN