Keyword
-sama
Info
FrequencyTop 100
Type
Kyōiku (3rd grade) 
?
Shinjitai ?
KankenLevel 8
Heisig1003
Old form
Readings
さま
(67%)
よう
(27%)
ざま
(4%)
Composed of
tree
force of nature
water
Mnemonic

This is the kanji for the さま honorific suffix, and is typically used for individuals of a higher rank than oneself, including customers, people one greatly admires, or divine entities.

Traditionally many of such Japanese divine entities towards whom this honorific would be used were considered to be a part of the landscape. The tree on the left of this kanji is not just a simple tree — it's a place where a deity resides. The water on the bottom is not just water — it is also an embodiment of a Japanese divine spirit. They wield the force of nature as they see fit and can easily ruin you if you're rude, so show some respect and use the 〜さま honorific!

Used in vocabulary (506 in total)
state; state of affairs; appearance; look; sign; indication
Mr.; Mrs.; makes a word more polite (usu. in fixed expressions); state; situation
in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; take care (so as); hoping or wishing for something
Examples (200 in total)
Who do you think you are?
What did she look like?
He seemed worried about his health.
He looked surprised.
I wish I were a prince.
He looked quite tired.
The story didn't sound true.
Judging from his appearance, he may be a soldier.
It seemed that she had already received the money.
This town is quite different from what it was ten years ago.
Do you believe in God?
They believe in God.
God doesn't exist.
It seems to me that she knows everything.
Like you, I was also late for school yesterday.
See that this never happens again.
We teachers are human just like you students.
She is no less beautiful than her older sister.
God may be listening to his wish.
Please give my regards to your father.
It seems that he knows about it.
He gave a short account of the accident.
A variety of creatures can be seen under the water.
Because novels, just like paintings, need you to practice.
This problem may be solved in a variety of ways.
The company deals in a variety of products.
Work is not the object of life any more than play is.
This lake abounds in various kinds of fish.
I'm looking forward to seeing your father.
There lived a king in an old castle.
The king ruled the country for years.
I'm the king of the world!
When I grow up, I want to be king.
When I grow up, I want to be a king.
He was more than a king.
Once there lived a great king.
The king is naked!
To me, he is like a king.
Where's your husband?
May you all be happy.
She likes the design on the plate.
Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.
Who will play the role of the princess?
You may be missing out on many good opportunities.
Kate is no less charming than her sister is.
She is no less charming than her older sister.
He is very kind, just like you.
It's very kind of you to say so.
They shone like stars in the dark, dirty building.
"What's your wife's name?" "I'm not married."
When did you marry your wife?
Where did you meet your wife?
What's your wife's job?
Who is your wife?
In that country there once lived a wise king.
We should approach this problem from different angles.
I'm from another planet.
There are people of many different races living in America.
How did you meet your wife?
The king once lived in that palace.
The King invited not only us but also a lot of other people.
I was deceived by her appearance.
He had been repairing the car and looked tired when I arrived home.
He tried to unify the various groups.
The employees also share the same idea.
The king left a large fortune behind.
She didn't seem interested.
He teaches mathematics as well as English.
He seemed disappointed at the results.
She seemed disappointed with the result.
The colors of the pattern are very ordinary.
Many young girls dream of becoming princesses.
Love is a gift from God.
Doctors and hospitals should help everyone.
We have a parking lot for the customers.
He bowed to the Queen.
Air, like food, is a basic human need.
She seemed pressed for time and often glanced at the clock on the wall.
He acts as if he were a king.
He likes sports as well as music.
The prince was changed into a frog.
Specifications and price are subject to change.
I thought of various factors before I acted.
They defied the laws of the king.
The third star belonged to a certain king.
The king ordered that the prisoner should be set free.
When he lost his watch he didn't seem to care.
The king has reigned over the country for many years.
As the lion is king of beasts, so is the eagle king of birds.
These convenient goods will meet our customers' demands.
Many different types of flowers were in bloom in the garden.
She dreamed that she was a princess.
A girl approached the king from among the crowd.
She hid the letter carefully so no one would see it.
Like me, he's also not tall.
This palace was built for the rich king.
Such things happen all the time.
He made the final decision on all such matters.
I'm glad to see such a beautiful animal.
May the queen live long!
That girl is under the delusion that she is a princess.
He was a god to his people.
You must adapt to a variety of conditions.
The king always wears a crown.
The old man looked surprised at the news.
The girl, like her parents, was very sympathetic.
I don't know if this is an update or a bug.
Education should not be a burden on the parents as well as on the children.
This style of costume originated in Paris.
Computers have changed the industrial picture considerably.
Are you Peter's wife?
Like most diseases, it has its own symptoms.
May I please have your telephone number?
It seems that he knows a secret.
Once there lived a very wicked king in England.
Tom's wife suddenly fell sick.
Tom just sat there looking bored.
Passengers going to the Chuo Line, please change trains at the next stop.
My father can speak French as well as English.
Once upon a time, there lived a cruel king.
A long time ago, there lived an old king on a small island.
Once there lived an old king in England.
Their traditional life style no longer exists.
The king went hunting this morning.
Is your wife a good cook?
We can communicate with each other in many ways.
God is everywhere.
Is there any doctor here?
The lion is the king of the jungle.
The prince bowed down to Snow White.
Diplomats are allowed various privileges.
The king will appear in person tomorrow evening.
Dick showed a willingness to help us.
Our insurance policy covers various kinds of damages.
This is how he failed.
The accident happened in this manner.
God created the world in six days.
Our policy is to satisfy our customers.
In 1939, as in 1914, the world was on the brink of war.
Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.
His broad interests bring him broad views on everything.
Seen through a telescope, the planets take on a completely new appearance.
I serve pub food to Canadian customers.
You look tired. Shall I take the wheel?
The new school is of simple and modern construction.
His eyes are like those of a leopard.
She likes tennis as well as basketball.
How many are there in your party, sir?
A love letter from Gray?
His striped suit and checked tie didn't match.
Now the company can justify such expenditure.
This forest is full of diversity.
I'd like to take advantage of this opportunity to thank you all for your cooperation.
This ticket allows two people to enter.
Japan imports various raw materials from abroad.
Once upon a time there lived an old king on a small island.
Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess.
Once upon a time, there lived a great king in Greece.
How is your wife doing?
There are a lot of different people in Europe.
What is your mother's maiden name?
What is your wife's maiden name?
At night, she gazed at the moon.
Chinese food is no less delicious than French.
The road was crowded with various vehicles.
Nancy told me about the fire.
Some residents took a wait-and-see attitude while others prepared for heavy flooding.
The king was pleased with him at first.
It seems to me that Mr Jones is good golfer.
Children under 10 are not admitted.
Children under age five are free.
Judging from the look of the sky, it may rain this afternoon.
Judging from the look of the sky, it is likely to rain.
Judging from the look of the sky, it is going to snow.
Now you're flying over the Alps.
This car is like new.
Mr. Young wishes his son would study harder.
Mr Wright speaks Japanese as if it were his mother tongue.
Part of the charm of a big city lies in the variety of styles that can be seen in the architecture of its buildings.
We find diverse ethnic and economic interests here.
This is the American way of life.
Of course our lifestyle is different from the one in America.
Gordon is interested in the Japanese way of life.
One's lifestyle is largely determined by money.
He got accustomed to the new way of living.
I think he needs to alter his lifestyle.
They didn't want to give up their old ways of living.
It is very difficult to persuade people to change their life style.
My grandmother never changed her style of living.
Our mode of life has changed since the introduction of European civilization.
Archaeologists are those who hunt for clues about the lifestyles of ancient peoples.
It's not a bug, it's an undocumented feature.
Humans communicate in many different ways.
George III has been unfairly maligned by historians.
Zebras have stripes.
We have a wide choice of books.
His condition is, if anything, better than yesterday.
We have to conform to the rules.
Tom's new wife is younger than his daughter from his first marriage.
Her skirt is yellow with polka dots.