「~そうだ」: Expressing Judgments Based on Observation or Perception
Explanation
「~そうだ」 has two main uses in Japanese: hearsay and appearance. This article focuses on its use to express judgments based on observation or perception (appearance). The appearance form of 「~そうだ」 is used to convey the speaker's subjective judgment about the state or nature of something based on what they see or feel. This judgment is intuitive, so it cannot be used with words that describe things directly observable, such as 「きれい」 (pretty).
Grammar Pattern
Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Verb ます-stem + そうだ | Verb ます-stem | Expresses a subjective judgment based on observation or perception. |
い-Adjective stem + そうだ | い-Adjective stem | Expresses a subjective judgment based on observation or perception. |
な-Adjective stem + そうだ | な-Adjective stem | Expresses a subjective judgment based on observation or perception. |
Basic Usage
- Verb ます-stem + そうだ
- い-Adjective stem + そうだ
- な-Adjective stem + そうだ
Examples
この ラーメン はとても辛そうです。- Kono ramen wa totemo karasou desu.
- This ramen looks very spicy.
次 のレース はあの馬 が勝ちそうだ。- Tsugi no reesu wa ano uma ga kachisou da.
- It looks like that horse will win the next race.
雨 が降りそうです。- Ame ga furisou desu.
- It looks like it's going to rain.
Exceptions
There are two exceptions to note when using the appearance form of 「~そうだ」:
- 「いい」 → 「よさそう」
- 「ない」 → 「なさそう」
Examples
- こっちの
商品 のほうが良さそうだ。 - Kocchi no shouhin no hou ga yosasou da.
- This product looks better.
探 している本 はこの店 に無さそうだ。- Sagashite iru hon wa kono mise ni nasasou da.
- The book I'm looking for doesn't seem to be in this store.
Deep Dive
「~そうだ」 is not limited to describing appearances; it can also express premonitions about future events. This structure reflects the speaker's intuitive feelings, so its accuracy may be influenced by subjective factors.
Comparisons and Differences
「~そうだ」 vs. 「~らしい」
- 「~そうだ」: Expresses a subjective judgment based on observation or perception.
- 「~らしい」: Expresses an objective judgment based on some source of information.
Expression | Usage | Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
~そうだ | Subjective judgment | He looks energetic. | |
~らしい | Objective judgment | I heard he's energetic. |
「~そうだ」 vs. 「~ようだ」
- 「~そうだ」: Mainly used for intuitive judgments based on outward appearances.
- 「~ようだ」: Expresses a comprehensive judgment based on multiple pieces of information.
Expression | Usage | Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
~そうだ | Intuitive judgment | あの |
That person looks sad. |
~ようだ | Comprehensive judgment | あの |
That person seems to be sad. |
Real-Life Scenarios
Dialogue Examples
- Weather Forecast
天気予報 によると、明日 は雨 が降りそうだ。- Tenki yohou ni yoru to, ashita wa ame ga furisou da.
- According to the weather forecast, it looks like it will rain tomorrow.
- Conversation at the Hospital
医者 によると、とても難 しい手術 だったそうだ。- Isha ni yoru to, totemo muzukashii shujutsu datta sou da.
- According to the doctor, the surgery was very difficult.
- Everyday Conversation
彼 はお隣 さん、子ども がもうすぐ生まれそうだ。- Kare wa otonari-san, kodomo ga mou sugu umaresou da.
- I heard the neighbor's child is about to be born.
Summary
「~そうだ」 is a common and practical expression in Japanese, allowing speakers to convey subjective judgments about the state of things. Mastering this grammar point will help you better understand how Japanese people describe the characteristics of the world around them through observation and intuition.