Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
This pattern primarily means “seems like,” “appears that,” or “looks like,” used for expressing conjecture or inference based on observation. It is also used to mean “like” or “as if” for making comparisons.
🎯 Primary Function
To express a speaker’s conjecture or impression based on what they see or hear, or to describe something by comparing it to something else.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Plain Form) + ようだ / ように / ような
い-Adjective (Plain Form) + ようだ / ように / ような
な-Adjective + な + ようだ / ように / ような
Noun + の + ようだ / ように / ような Note: よう followed by だ/です (sentence end), に (adverbial), な (adjectival).
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used with です at the end (e.g., ～ようです) for more formal contexts.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in informal speech (often as みたい which is a more casual equivalent).
Written Language
Used in written Japanese.
Spoken Language
Very frequently used in spoken Japanese.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing appearance or likelihood
Describing how something looks or seems based on observation, suggesting a possibility.
Example: 空が暗くなって、雨が降るようです。(Sora ga kuraku natte, ame ga furu you desu.) – The sky has become dark, it looks like it will rain.
Making comparisons
Stating that something is similar to something else, often used to describe a state or action.
Example: 彼女は天使のように優しい人です。(Kanojo wa tenshi no you ni yasashii hito desu.) – She is a person kind like an angel.
Describing a state or action like something else
Using the ように form to modify a verb or adjective, indicating resemblance in manner or state.
Example: 子供のように喜んだ。(Kodomo no you ni yorokonda.) – I was happy like a child.
Frequency
High
Difficulty
Intermediate
Example Sentences
空が暗くなって、雨が降るようです。
The sky has become dark, it looks like it will rain.
彼女は天使のように優しい人です。
She is a person kind like an angel.
この部屋はホテルのような部屋だ。
This room is a room like a hotel room.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
よう vs. そうだ (Looks like)
よう is used for inference based on observation or general impression. そうだ (when describing appearance directly) is used when something *visibly* looks a certain way (e.g., a delicious-looking cake).
Example: このケーキはおいしそうです。(This cake looks delicious – based purely on appearance). vs. 彼は疲れているようです。(He seems tired – based on observation of his state).
Forms: だ/です, に, な
よう takes different forms depending on what it modifies: ようだ/ようです at the end of a sentence; ように to modify a verb or adjective (adverbial); ような to modify a noun (adjectival).
Example: 雨が降るようです。(Sentence end) vs. 天使のように優しい (Modifies adjective 優しい) vs. ホテルのような部屋 (Modifies noun 部屋).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrectly connecting to verbs/adjectives/nouns.
✅ Use Verb (Plain), い-Adj (Plain), な-Adj + な, Noun + の before よう.
This is the required connection rule for this grammar pattern.
❌ Confusing with the Volitional Form.
✅ The volitional form (e.g., 行こう, 食べよう) expresses intention or suggestion (“Let’s go,” “Let’s eat”). This よう expresses appearance/similarity.
Check the context and the structure. The volitional form is a verb ending; this よう attaches *after* the plain verb form.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Politeness is indicated by the ending (ようです is polite, ようだ is plain).
Social Situations: Used in a wide range of social situations.
Regional Variations: Minimal significant regional variations in the core usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
よう vs. そう (Looks like)
よう is inference/comparison; そう (looks like) is direct visual appearance.
When to use: Use そう when you can clearly see something looks a certain way (delicious, cold, etc.). Use よう for a general impression or comparison.
よう vs. らしい
よう is based on personal observation/impression; らしい is based on hearsay or expected characteristics.
When to use: Use らしい when you heard or read something. Use よう when you are making an inference based on what you see or your general feeling.
よう vs. みたい
みたい is a more informal equivalent of よう.
When to use: Use みたい in casual conversation. Use よう (or its forms) in more standard or slightly formal contexts.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Verb: Plain Form + よう い-Adjective: Plain Form + よう な-Adjective: な + よう Noun: の + よう
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
よう is pronounced with a long ‘o’ sound, similar to the ‘o’ in “go” but held longer.
🧠 Memory Tips
Associate よう with “looks like,” “seems like,” or “like something.” Think of making an observation and saying “it looks like…” or making a comparison “it is like…”.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct form: 彼は___(子供)___ように走った。
が
は
の
に
Choose the correct form: 雨が___(降る)___ようです。
降ります
降って
降りる
降る
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