よう

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kana spelling of various words.

Noun

よう (rōmaji yō)

1. 用: business, engagement
2. 幼: young; young children
3. 洋: ocean
4. 要: cornerstone; requirement
5. 俑: wooden figure buried with the dead
6. 様: way, style, appearance
7. 葉: leaf, needle, blade (of a plant)
8. 陽: yang, sun, light
9. 癰: carbuncle

Counter

よう (rōmaji -yō)

1. 葉: (rare) counter for flat, thin things such as leaves or paper; (by extension) counter for small boats

Verb

よう (godan conjugation, rōmaji you)

1. 酔う: to get drunk

Adjective

よう (-na inflection, rōmaji yō)

1. 様: be like, look like, seem like, as if, having the likeness of

Etymology 2

Verb

よう (rōmaji yō)

1. (auxiliary) Expressing one's will to do something.

   そろそろ寝 (ね)よう。

   Sorosoro neyō.

   I go to bed before long.

   そうしよう。

   Sōshiyō.

   I will do so.

   美 (お)味 (い)しいものを食 (た)べようと思 (おも)っています。

   Oishī mono o tabeyō to omotte imasu.

   I'm thinking about eating something delicious.

   出 (で)かけようとした時 (とき)、電 (でん)話 (わ)がかかってきた。

   Dekakeyō to shita toki, denwa ga kakatte kita.

   I got a phone call when I was about to go out.

2. (auxiliary) Inducing or stimulating other person to do something.

   さあ、始 (はじ)めよう。

   Sā, hajimeyō.

   Let's get started.

3. (auxiliary) Presenting a supposition.

Usage notes

• Attaches to the 未然形 (mizenkei, “imperfective form”) of verbs.
• よう (yō) is used after ichidan and irregular verbs. う (u) is used after godan verbs.

Etymology 3

Interjection

よう (rōmaji yō)

1. A very informal greeting similar to yo.

   よう、元 (げん)気 (き)？

   Yō, genki?

   Yo! Howdy?

2. A very informal (rude) interjection similar to hey.

   よう、待 (ま)てよ。

   Yō, mateyo.

   Hey, wait.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

• やあ (yā)
• ねえ (nē)
• オッス (ossu)