The grammar 「〜そうです」 in Japanese indeed has two primary meanings.
Table of Contents
1. 「〜そうです」 – Expressing “It seems that…” or “I heard that…”
This usage is based on hearsay or second-hand information.
Formation:
- Verb (plain form) + そうです
- Example: 雨が降るそうです (I heard it will rain.)
- い-adjective (plain form) + そうです
- Example: 彼は忙しいそうです (I heard he is busy.)
- な-adjective + だ + そうです
- Example: 彼は元気だそうです (I heard he is healthy.)
- Noun + だ + そうです
- Example: 彼は先生だそうです (I heard he is a teacher.)
Key Characteristics:
- This is indirect information. You’re not the one directly observing or experiencing.
- Often used with そうだ in casual speech.
- Can be paired with evidential sources for clarity, such as:
- 新聞で読んだそうです (I read in the newspaper that…)
- 友達が言っていたそうです (A friend said that…)
2. 「〜そうです」 – Expressing “It looks like…” or “It appears…”
This usage is based on appearance or personal observation.
Formation:
- Verb (ます-stem) + そうです
- Example: 雨が降りそうです (It looks like it will rain.)
- い-adjective (remove final い) + そうです
- Example: このケーキはおいしそうです (This cake looks delicious.)
- な-adjective + そうです
- Example: 彼は楽しそうです (He looks like he’s having fun.)
Key Characteristics:
- This is your interpretation based on what you see, hear, or perceive.
- Often used to describe immediate impressions or forecasts.
- Cannot be used with certain adjectives like those expressing inherent qualities (e.g., 大きい, 小さい, かわいい). Instead, you might use 「〜みたいです」 or another expression.
Comparison Table
Meaning | Usage | Formation | Example Sentence | Key Point |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hearsay | “I heard that…” | Verb/Adj/Noun (plain form) + そうです | 彼は先生だそうです。 | Indirect information |
Appearance | “It looks like…” | Verb (ます-stem)/Adj (stem) + そうです | 雨が降りそうです。 | Based on your observation |
Points to Remember
- Context is key: When hearing 「〜そうです」 in conversation, judge from context whether it indicates hearsay or appearance.
- Negation for appearance is a bit different:
- 雨が降りそうにない (It doesn’t look like it will rain.)
- Politeness levels:
- Casual: そうだ
- Polite: そうです
- Overlap with other expressions:
- For “It looks like,” you can sometimes use similar structures like 〜らしい, but they imply subtle nuances of certainty or perception.