様々

• Reading: さまざま
• Romaji: samazama
• Kanji breakdown: 様 (sama/you) — manner, appearance, form
• Pronunciation: /sa.ma.za.ma/

Meaning

Varied; various; diverse. Describes a wide range of different things.

A na-adjective and noun indicating variety and diversity: 様々な意見 (various opinions), 様々な国 (various countries). Slightly more formal than いろいろ. Can be written in hiragana as さまざま. Very frequently used in news, business, and academic writing to express breadth or range.

Examples

1. この町には様々な国の料理が楽しめる。 You can enjoy cuisine from various countries in this town.
2. 様々な意見が出たが結論はまだ出ていない。 Various opinions were raised, but no conclusion has been reached yet.
3. 彼女は様々な経験を通じて成長した。 She grew through a variety of experiences.

Usage Guide

Context: news, business, academic

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Reduplication of 様 (sama, manner/appearance). Doubling 様 intensifies the meaning to 'many different manners/forms.' The reduplication pattern is common in Japanese for expressing plurality or variety.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal