ありさま
ありさま
noun
state; condition; sight; spectacle
1.
state; condition; situation
The way something is; the state or condition of a thing or place. Often used when describing a scene or situation that the speaker has witnessed.
町のありさまが変わった。
The state of the town changed.
被災地のありさまをテレビで見た。
I saw the state of the disaster area on TV.
戦後の日本のありさまを記録した写真集が出版された。
A photo book documenting the state of postwar Japan was published.
2.
sorry state; pitiful sight
Used with a negative nuance to describe a deplorable or unsightly condition. Often preceded by この or その.
このありさまは何だ。
What is this mess?
部屋の散らかったありさまに驚いた。
I was shocked at the messy state of the room.
試合に大敗し、目も当てられないありさまだった。
They suffered a crushing defeat — it was a pitiful sight.
Written in kanji as 有様 or 有り様, but often written in hiragana. Describes the visible condition or state of something, typically something the speaker has observed directly.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 町のありさま: the state of a town
- 現場のありさま: the state of the scene
- このありさま: this (sorry) state of affairs
- 目も当てられないありさま: a sight too awful to look at
- ありさまを伝える: to convey the situation
NUANCE:
In sense 1, ありさま is neutral and simply refers to the observable state of something. In sense 2, especially with この or その, it carries a strong negative connotation — disappointment, disgust, or dismay at the way things look.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 状態: condition — more objective and technical
- 様子: appearance, look — broader and more neutral
- ざま: a harsh, contemptuous variant meaning "pitiful sight"