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状態
じょうたい
state
機械の状態を確認してください。
Please check the machine's state.
formal
The particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time
現在の経済状態は安定しています。
The current economic state is stable.
彼は精神的な状態が良くない。
He is not in a good mental state.
Often used in technical, medical, or formal contexts to describe the condition of systems, people, or environments.
formal
appearance or form of something
氷の状態から水へと変化する。
It changes from the state of ice to water.
Refers to the physical or chemical form of matter in scientific contexts.
Pro Tip
Common collocations with 状態
状態 is often paired with verbs like 保つ (preserve), 変える (change), or 確認する (check). For example, '状態を保つ' means 'to maintain the state' and '状態を確認する' means 'to check the state'.
Gold Rule
When to use 状態 vs. 様子 vs. 状況
Use 状態 when referring to the physical or abstract condition of something (e.g., 'the state of the machine'). Use 様子 for appearance or demeanor (e.g., 'the child's appearance'). Use 状況 for situational context (e.g., 'the current situation').
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 狀態 (dzjangH dajH), meaning 'form' and 'manner'. The Japanese compound was formed by combining 状 (state/form) and 態 (condition/manner) during the Edo period, reflecting the Chinese influence on Japanese scientific terminology.
Usage Notes
状態 is a formal noun commonly used in technical, medical, and academic writing. It emphasizes the current condition or form of something rather than the process of change. For everyday situations, simpler terms like '様子' (appearance) or '状況' (situation) may be more natural.
Word Breakdown
状
form, appearance, state
root態
condition, manner, state
root和英辞典