The Meaning of yōshiki [様式] In Japanese

様式
ようしき
Romaji: yōshiki N3

What does 様式 mean?

Translation and Meaning

style, form, pattern, manner, conventional form

Definition

What does 様式 mean? It refers to a particular style, format, or method by which something is designed, presented, or organized, reflecting standard conventions rather than content.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • style or fashion in design, writing, or art — the overall look or feel of a thing
  • format, template, or layout used for documents, publications, or events
  • a conventional mode of presentation or procedure in which something is carried out

Etymology

様 contributes the sense of appearance or manner; 式 contributes form or ceremony; together they form a lexical unit that denotes a conventional form or style (yōshiki).

Composition

  • 様: formality, appearance, manner
  • 式: form, method, ceremony
  • Combination: a standard way of presenting or creating something, i.e., style or format

Usage

Used in formal and technical discourse to describe how something is designed, formatted, or presented; common in design, architecture, publishing, documentation, and ceremonial contexts; typically appears in academic writing, style guides, and product specifications.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: associate 様 with polite appearance and 式 with ceremony; together they cue a formal pattern or format—think ‘sama’ + ‘shiki’ to recall style or format.

Variations

  • 形式 keishiki — form, format
  • 体裁 teisai — appearance, layout
  • スタイル sutairu — style
  • 様式美 youshiki-bi — aesthetics of form

Example Phrases

  • 受付で様式を記入して、窓口へ提出してください。
    uketsuke de youshiki o kinyū shite, madoguchi e teishutsu shite kudasai.
    Please fill out the form at the reception and submit it at the counter.
    Lista:
    • 受付で (uketsuke de) – at the reception
    • 様式を (youshiki o) – the form
    • 記入して (kinyū shite) – fill out
    • 窓口へ (madoguchi e) – to the counter
    • 提出してください (teishutsu shite kudasai) – please submit
    「様式」 means ‘form’ and is the object of 記入して in this context.
様式