Posted inN4 Grammar

Unlock ~そうだ! Learn How to Talk About What You See (JLPT N4 Grammar)

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To express that something “looks like” or “seems” a certain way, based on direct observation, especially visual.

🎯 Primary Function

To make a conjecture or describe the appearance of something based on immediate sensory information.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb ます-stem + そうだ い-adjective (remove い) + そうだ な-adjective (remove な) + そうだ *Note: There are exceptions for い-adjectives like いい (good) which becomes よさそうだ.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though the polite form そうです is more common formally.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used in everyday conversation.

✍️ Written Language

Used in written language, particularly in descriptions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used in spoken language to describe what one sees or perceives.

💡 Common Applications

Describing the appearance of food
Used to say food looks delicious, bitter, etc.
Example: このケーキはとても美味しそうです。 (Kono keeki wa totemo oishisou desu.) – This cake looks very delicious.
Describing weather
Used to say it looks like it will rain, snow, etc.
Example: 空が暗いです。雨が降りそうです。 (Sora ga kurai desu. Ame ga furisou desu.) – The sky is dark. It looks like it will rain.
Describing a person’s state
Used to say someone looks tired, happy, busy, etc.
Example: 田中さんは忙しそうです。 (Tanaka-san wa isogashisou desu.) – Tanaka-san looks busy.
📊
Frequency
High frequency in daily Japanese conversation and writing.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy for N4 learners, mainly focusing on the connection rules.
Example Sentences
彼は元気そうです。
He looks energetic.
この本は難しそうです。
This book looks difficult.
雨がやみそうです。
It looks like the rain is going to stop.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Based on Direct Observation
~そうだ is typically used when you make a judgment based on what you directly see, hear, or feel at the moment.
Example: このりんごは新鮮そうです。 (Kono ringo wa shinsen sou desu.) – This apple looks fresh (based on its appearance).
No Noun or の
Unlike some other conjecture patterns, ~そうだ does NOT attach directly to nouns. It also does not use の.
Example: (Incorrect) 学生そうです (Correct) 学生のようです (~you da is used for noun inference)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Attaching to the dictionary form of verbs or full adjectives.
✅ Use the ます-stem for verbs, and remove the final い or な for adjectives.
Incorrect: 食べるそうです (taberu sou desu). Correct: 食べそうです (tabesou desu). Incorrect: 大きいそうです (ookii sou desu). Correct: 大きそうです (ookisou desu). Incorrect: 元気なそうです (genkina sou desu). Correct: 元気そうです (genki sou desu).
❌ Using with nouns directly.
✅ Use ~のようです (~no you desu) for inference with nouns.
Incorrect: 先生そうです (sensei sou desu). Correct: 先生のようです (sensei no you desu).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to slightly polite. Adding です makes it polite (〜そうです).
Social Situations: Used widely in various social situations to describe observations.
Regional Variations: Standard across most regions.

🔍 Subtle Differences

そうだ vs. ようだ
そうだ is based on direct, often visual, observation. ようだ is based on observation or general information/impression, and can also mean “like” (comparison).
When to use: Use そうだ when commenting on immediate appearance (e.g., “The food looks tasty”). Use ようだ for broader inferences or comparisons (e.g., “It seems he’s tired” or “He’s like his father”).
そうだ vs. らしい
そうだ is based on observation. らしい is based on hearsay or reliable information.
When to use: Use そうだ if you see rain clouds and say “It looks like rain.” Use らしい if you heard the weather forecast say “It will rain tomorrow.”
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Verb: Remove ます from the ます-form and add そうだ (e.g., 飲みます -> 飲みそうだ). い-adjective: Remove い and add そうだ (e.g., 楽しい -> 楽しそうだ). Exception: いい -> よさそうだ. な-adjective: Remove な and add そうだ (e.g., 静かだ -> 静かそうだ).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce そう as a long vowel “soo”. The だ at the end is often dropped in casual speech when used at the end of a sentence, or replaced with です for politeness.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of そうだ as being like your “sight” or “senses” reporting directly on what is happening or what something is like right now.

Practice Exercises
このりんごは（　　）そうです。 (美味しい)
美味しい
美味しく
美味し
美味しかった
今にも雨が（　　）そうです。
降る
降り
降って
降りたい
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