様子・容子|ようすyousu[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounstate (of affairs); situation; circumstances
2. nounappearance; look(s); air; manner; behaviour; demeanor
   彼かれはどうしたら良よいのかわからない様子ようすだった。↗

   He looked uncertain what to do.
3. nounsign; indication

• Synonym有様ありさまNeutralOften depicts the scene before your eyes, usually with a negative tinge, as in 「この有様は何だ」; 「様子」 is neutral.
• Synonym状態じょうたいNeutralA thing's condition at a given point in time, fairly objective, as in 「健康状態」「保存状態」; 「様子」 stresses what shows on the outside.
• Synonym具合ぐあいNeutralWhether a machine or the body is working as it should, as in 「体の具合」; also a way of doing things, as in 「こんな具合に」.
• Synonym状況じょうきょうNeutralThe overall state of affairs and surrounding conditions, as in 「経済状況」; 「様子」 is more concrete — the look you can actually see.
• Synonym容態ようだいWrittenSpecifically a patient's medical condition, as in 「容態が急変する」; a formal word, while 「様子」 is not limited to illness.
• Synonym様相ようそうWrittenThe aspect a situation takes on, often in 「様相を呈する」, as in 「混乱の様相」; strongly written in flavor.
• Synonym塩梅あんばいCasualColloquial and old-fashioned: the seasoning of food, or by extension the state of things, one's health, or the right degree.
• Synonym情勢じょうせいWrittenThe large-scale trend of society or politics, as in 「国際情勢」; written in flavor, while 「様子」 fits big and small alike.
• Synonym動静どうせいWrittenA written word for the movements or activities of a person or group, as in 「敵の動静を探る」.
• SynonymようWrittenRead 「さま」 it means appearance or scene, quite literary; read 「よう」 it works mostly as a suffix for manner or style.
• Synonym様態ようたいWrittenAn academic term for the way something exists or acts, its mode or form; rare in daily life — say 「様子」 in speech.
• Related感じかんじCasualThe impression a person subjectively gets, as in 「いい感じ」; 「様子」 is the situation seen from outside.
• Related格好かっこうCasualShape, dress or posture, as in 「変な格好」; also how presentable one looks — appearance rather than the whole picture.
• Related状じょうWrittenMostly a suffix forming words like 「液状」「現状」; alone it can mean a letter — not used by itself for appearance in daily life.
• RelatedコンディションNeutralWhether the body, a venue and the like are in good shape, as in 「コンディションを整える」; frequent in sports.
• RelatedシチュエーションCasualThe scene or setting one is in; a colloquial loanword often for story setups, as in 「憧れのシチュエーション」.
• Related事態じたいWrittenHow things have turned out, usually for the worse, as in 「緊急事態」「事態の悪化」; 「様子」 has no such negative lean.
• Related気分きぶんNeutralA person's mood or how they feel, as in 「気分がいい」; 「様子」 is the outward picture other people see.
• Related雰囲気ふんいきNeutralThe atmosphere of a place or the aura a person gives off, as in 「店の雰囲気」; the overall feel rather than concrete details.
• Related気配けはいNeutralA sign sensed rather than clearly observed, as in 「人の気配」「春の気配」; 「様子」 covers all sorts of things you see or hear.
• Related気味きみNeutralMostly the suffix 「～気味」 for a slight tendency, as in 「風邪気味」; standalone use is largely 「気味が悪い」.
• Related感触かんしょくNeutralThe feel of something to the touch, or the impression contact leaves, as in 「好感触」; 「様子」 is the outward state.
• Related形勢けいせいWrittenWhich side has the upper hand in a contest, as in 「形勢が逆転する」; a written word for games and battles.
• Relatedあり方ありかたWrittenHow something ought to be or exist, as in 「教育のあり方」; a written word with a nuance of discussion and reflection.
• Related気けNeutralRead 「け」, it means a sign or trace, mostly in set phrases like 「寒気」「火の気」; not used alone for how things look.

Use 「様子」 for the state or signs a person, thing or affair presents, as in 「様子を見る」「雨が降りそうな様子」. For an objective condition say 「状態」; for the overall situation 「状況」 or 「情勢」; for the body or a machine 「具合」; for a patient 「容態」; for atmosphere 「雰囲気」. 「有様」 and 「事態」 often sound negative, while 「感じ」「気分」「感触」 are subjective impressions.

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

1. 有様ありさま。
2. 姿すがた。
3. 物事ものごとが起おこりそうな雰囲気ふんいき・気配けはい。
4. そぶり。
5. 訳わけ、事情じじょう。