よう

様

noun; suffix forming adverbial phrases; also written as 樣 or ようだ/ような in various grammatical constructions

appearance, manner, way
aspect, state, condition
(suffix) -like, -wise, seeming
approximately, about

Analysis. Japanese uses this character and word to mark appearance or manner (similar to English '-ward' in 'afterward' showing direction of manner). In modern Japanese, it functions as a grammatical morpheme in patterns like 'のようだ' (seems like) and 'のような' (like, resembling).

Dictionary entry by Claude.

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