様々・様様|さまざまsamazama[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
様々様々 is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners; use it when writing the word.
様様様様 is a less common written variant of 様々; beginners should choose 様々 instead when writing the word.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounvarious; varied; diverse; all sorts of
Conjugation
| Plain form | 様々（さまざま） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 様々です（さまざまです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 様々ではない（さまざまではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 様々ではありません（さまざまではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 様々だった（さまざまだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 様々ではなかった（さまざまではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 様々で（さまざまで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 様々に（さまざまに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 様々なら（さまざまなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymいろいろNeutralThe most common choice in speech; also works as an adverb, as in 「いろいろ考える」, or to gloss things over vaguely, as in 「いろいろあって」. 「様々」 is a touch more formal.
- Synonym種々しゅじゅWrittenWritten style meaning 'various'; common in phrases like 「種々の問題」. Stiffer than 「様々」.
- Synonym多種多様たしゅたようWrittenA four-character compound stressing both sheer variety and difference between items, as in 「多種多様な人材」. Stronger in tone than 「様々」.
- Synonym多様たようWrittenCovers many kinds and varied forms; seen mostly in 「多様性」 and 「多様化」. More written and abstract than 「様々」.
- SynonymまちまちWrittenWritten style (read 「くく」); means each one is different, but can also mean trivial and hardly worth mention, as in 「区々たる問題」.
- Synonym種々雑多しゅじゅざったWrittenStresses a jumbled mix of things lacking unity, with a slightly negative, messy nuance; 「様々」 only says there are many kinds.
- Related雑多ざったNeutralSuggests various things jumbled together untidily, as in 「雑多な仕事」; carries a hint of disorder that 「様々」 lacks.
- Related多彩たさいNeutralDescribes rich color or richly varied content, as in 「多彩な才能」; carries a brilliant, positive tinge that 「様々」 does not.
- Related千差万別せんさばんべつWrittenStresses that things all differ from one another, as in 「好みは千差万別」; the focus is on difference rather than sheer number.
- RelatedとりどりWrittenMostly seen in 「とりどりの花」 and 「色とりどり」; stresses that each item differs, with a literary flavor.
- Related区々くくWrittenWritten style (read 「くく」); means each one is different, but can also mean trivial and hardly worth mention, as in 「区々たる問題」.
- Related色とりどりいろとりどりNeutralOriginally for many colors, as in 「色とりどりの花」, and by extension for many kinds; has a bright, vivid feel.
- RelatedまぜこぜCasualColloquial for things thrown together in a jumble; stresses disorderly mixing rather than simply many kinds.
- Antonym一様いちようWrittenAntonym: everything is the same with no differences, as in 「一様に驚く」 — the direct opposite of 「様々」.
- Antonym同じおなじNeutralThe most basic word for 'same, identical'; it stands opposite 「様々」 on whether things differ or not.
For 'all sorts of', use 「様々」 or 「色々」; 「色々」 is the more casual. Stress sheer variety with 「多種多様」, difference between items with 「千差万別」, and a disorderly jumble with 「雑多」. 「種々」 and 「多様」 are written style, 「多彩」 adds a brilliant, positive tinge, 「色とりどり」 evokes vivid color, and 「一様」 and 「同じ」 are antonyms meaning 'all the same'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- 色色、さまざま。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
