よう
Contents
Japanese[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Kana spelling of various words.
Noun[edit]
よう (rōmaji yō)
- 用: business, engagement
- 幼: young; young children
- 洋: ocean
- 要: cornerstone; requirement
- 俑: wooden figure buried with the dead
- 様: way, style, appearance
- 葉: leaf, needle, blade (of a plant)
- 陽: yang, sun, light
- 癰: carbuncle
Counter[edit]
よう (rōmaji -yō)
- 葉: (rare) counter for flat, thin things such as leaves or paper; (by extension) counter for small boats
Verb[edit]
よう (godan conjugation, rōmaji you)
- 酔う: to get drunk
Adjective[edit]
よう (-na inflection, rōmaji yō)
Etymology 2[edit]
Verb[edit]
よう (rōmaji yō)
- (auxiliary) Expressing one's will to do something.
- そろそろ寝よう。
- Sorosoro neyō.
- I go to bed before long.
- そうしよう。
- Sōshiyō.
- I will do so.
- 美味しいものを食べようと思っています。
- Oishī mono o tabeyō to omotte imasu.
- I'm thinking about eating something delicious.
- 出かけようとした時、電話がかかってきた。
- Dekakeyō to shita toki, denwa ga kakatte kita.
- I got a phone call when I was about to go out.
- そろそろ寝よう。
- (auxiliary) Inducing or stimulating other person to do something.
- さあ、始めよう。
- Sā, hajimeyō.
- Let's get started.
- さあ、始めよう。
- (auxiliary) Presenting a supposition.
Usage notes[edit]
- 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[edit]
Interjection[edit]
よう (rōmaji yō)
- A very informal greeting similar to yo.
- よう、元気?
- Yō, genki?
- Yo! Howdy?
- よう、元気?
- A very informal (rude) interjection similar to hey.
- よう、待てよ。
- Yō, mateyo.
- Hey, wait.
- よう、待てよ。
Usage notes[edit]
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.