(よう)

よう
suffix
for ~, ~ use
1. for (a purpose), for use by/with
A suffix indicating purpose or intended use.
(あか)ちゃん(よう)肌着(はだぎ)()った。
I bought baby underwear.
災害(さいがい)(よう)缶詰(かんづめ)備蓄(びちく)している。
I'm stockpiling canned food for emergencies.
これは業務(ぎょうむ)(よう)のパソコンです。
This is a computer for business use.

(よう) is a productive suffix that attaches to nouns to indicate intended purpose, user, or application. Very common in product descriptions and labeling.

GRAMMAR:

  • noun + (よう)の + noun: for [purpose] (modifying a noun)
  • noun + (よう)に + verb: for [purpose] (modifying a verb)
  • noun + (よう)だ: is for [purpose] (predicate)

COMMON EXAMPLES:

  • 子供(こども)(よう): for children
  • 大人(おとな)(よう): for adults
  • 業務(ぎょうむ)(よう): for business use
  • 家庭(かてい)(よう): for home use
  • 非常(ひじょう)(よう): for emergencies
  • 練習(れんしゅう)(よう): for practice

SIMILAR SUFFIXES:

  • ()け: targeted at, aimed at (emphasis on intended audience)
  • (よう)(ひん): supplies/goods for a specific purpose