Kimuchi Nihongo

Grammar

N4AI-drafted

〜そうです(様態)

looks like; seems (from appearance)

Formation

V-ます形 + そうだ/い形容詞(〜い)+ そうだ/な形容詞語幹 + そうだ(いい→よさそう、ない→なさそう)

Usage

Expresses a judgment made on the spot from how something looks, or that something is about to happen (雨が降りそうだ). Note the form: そうだ attaches to the ます-stem or adjective stem, and 「いい」 becomes 「よさそう」. Do not use it for things that are obvious just by looking, such as 美しい or きれい; and do not confuse it with the 伝聞 そうだ, which uses the plain form (降るそうだ = 'I hear it will rain').

Examples

  • このケーキ、おいしそうですね。

    このケーキ、おいしそうですね。

    This cake looks delicious.

  • 空が暗いですね。雨が降りそうです。

    そらがくらいですね。あめがふりそうです。

    The sky is dark. It looks like it's going to rain.

  • 子どもたちは元気そうに走っていた。

    こどもたちはげんきそうにはしっていた。

    The children were running around looking full of energy.

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