(しょう)

しょう
suffix
personal disposition; constitution; tendency (suffix)
1. personal disposition; constitution; nature
Suffix attached to a noun or adjective stem to describe a person's inborn nature, temperament, or physical constitution. Distinct from 〜(せい), which forms abstract -ness/-ity nouns.
(かれ)苦労(くろう)(しょう)だ。
He is a worrier by nature.
(はは)()(しょう)で、(ふゆ)はいつも手足(てあし)(つめ)たい。
My mother is cold-natured, and her hands and feet are always cold in winter.
(わたし)心配(しんぱい)(しょう)なので、出発(しゅっぱつ)(まえ)何度(なんど)確認(かくにん)してしまう。
I'm a worrier by nature, so I check things many times before leaving.

Attaches to a noun or verb stem describing a personal trait or physical condition. The しょう reading is distinct from せい — 〜(せい) forms abstract qualities (可能(かのう)(せい) possibility) while 〜(しょう) refers to an individual's habitual nature or constitution.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 心配(しんぱい)(しょう): worrier; anxious by nature
  • 苦労(くろう)(しょう): someone who frets over small things
  • ()(しょう): cold-natured (poor circulation)
  • ()(しょう): someone who throws themselves fully into hobbies
  • ()(しょう): someone who tires of things quickly
  • 貧乏(びんぼう)(しょう): someone who can't relax about money

READING DISTINCTION:

  • (しょう): personal disposition, used with everyday/native vocabulary
  • (せい): abstract quality forming -ness/-ity nouns (重要(じゅうよう)(せい) importance, 可能(かのう)(せい) possibility)