How to say "state" in Japanese

• 状態じょうたいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word for 'state' as the condition something or someone is in — the state of a machine, a room, or one's health. Use it when English 'state' could be replaced by 'condition'.
  その古家ふるやはひどい状態じょうたいであった。↗

  The old house was in bad shape.
• 国くにJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounIts primary sense is 'country'; the 'state' gloss means a nation as a political unit. It fits where 'country' and 'state' overlap, though 国家 is the more precise word for the state.
  その王おうがその国くにを治おさめていた。↗

  The king governed the country.
• 様子ようすJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'state' in the sense of how things stand: the state of affairs, the situation, the circumstances. Typical when describing or asking how something is going, rather than naming a condition.
• 述べるのべるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb 'to state': to express or say something — facts, opinions, views — in speech or writing. Typical where English uses 'state' as a verb, as in stating one's opinion.
  私は客きゃくに別わかれのあいさつを述のべた。↗

  I bade farewell to the guests.
• 国家こっかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word for the state as a political entity — the nation and its institutions. Typical in political, legal, or historical contexts where 'state' means the organized governing entity, not a condition.
  同おなじ事ことが国家こっかについても当あてはまる。↗

  The same is true of the nation.

For the condition something is in, use 状態; for how things stand, 様子; for the state as a political entity, 国家 (国 when 'country' fits); and for the verb 'to state', 「述べる」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 状態じょうたいstate
• 国くにcountry
• 様子ようすstate (of affairs)
• 述べるのべるto state
• 国家こっかstate
• 州しゅうstate (of the US, Australia, India, Germany, etc.)
• 申し上げるもうしあげるto say
• 具合ぐあいcondition
• 有様ありさまstate
• ステートstate
• 境地きょうちstate (of mind)
• 沙汰さたaffair
• 動静どうせいstate (of affairs)
• 容態ようだいcondition
• 加減かげんdegree
• なりstyle
• 体ていappearance
• 態様たいようstate
• 社稷しゃしょくstate
• 申し述べるもうしのべるto say
• 仰せられるおおせられるto say
• 言葉にすることばにするto put into words
• 言い立てるいいたてるto assert
• 様さまstate
• 格好かっこうstate
• 姿すがたstate
• モードstate (of mind)
• 模様もようstate
• 状じょうstate
• 鳴らすならすto state
• 塩梅あんばいcondition
• うたうto declare
• 合いあいcondition
• 家国かこくstate
• あり方ありかた(present) state (of)
• 分ぶんcondition
• 形かたち(resultant) state