Skip to content
JLPT N4Hearsay & Conjecture

そうだ(seem) — Looks / Appears (immediate perception)

Indicates that something looks likely to happen or appears to be a certain way based on DIRECT observation. Attaches to verb masu-stems and adjective stems (not plain forms).

Grammar path · 練習

Practice this in the path

A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 58 · HEARSAY & CONJECTURE

Structure · 形

[Verb masu-stem] + そう | [い-adj drop い] + そう | [な-adj] + そう

Examples · 例文

  • 今にも泣きそうだ。

    Ima ni mo nakisou da.

    She looks about to cry at any moment.

    泣き (masu-stem) + そう = about to cry

  • このケーキ、甘そうですね。

    Kono keeki, amasou desu ne.

    This cake looks sweet.

    甘い → 甘そう (drop い)

  • 危なそうだったから、止めた。

    Abunasou datta kara, yameta.

    It looked dangerous, so I stopped.

    危ない → 危なそう (drop い; NOT 危ないそう)

Usage notes · 注意

  • Key concept: stem + そう = appearance from direct observation.
  • Exceptions: いい → よさそう (not いそう); ない → なさそう (not なそう).
  • Limitation: appearance そうだ can't be used for things you cannot perceive; for non-observable suppositions use らしい or ようだ instead.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones そうだ is tested against.

vsそうだ (hearsay)

This 'seem' そう cuts the stem and is your own visual read. Hearsay そうだ takes the full plain form and reports info from elsewhere.

vsようだ / みたい

よう/みたい draw a conclusion from accumulated evidence or resemblance. 'Seem' そう is a spontaneous, surface impression at the moment of looking.

vsらしい

らしい bases the guess on outside information or typical traits; 'seem' そう bases it purely on what you directly see right now.

More hearsay & conjecture

Study Japanese grammar on LenGaki

Everything on this page, ready to study

  • 7,788 JLPT vocabulary words, N5 through N1, with readings and audio (N5 free)
  • 2,057 kanji with on'yomi, kun'yomi and stroke-order practice
  • 445 grammar points with examples and commonly-confused comparisons
  • Full-length N5 and N4 mock exams, timed, with real listening audio (N5 sets 1 and 2 free)