～そうだ(様態)

How to form it

• Verb (ます-stem) + そうだ
• い-adjective (stem) + そうだ (よい → よさそう, ない → なさそう)
• な-adjective (stem) + そうだ
• Modifying a noun: ～そうな + noun; adverb: ～そうに

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Describes how something looks, or that something seems about to happen, based on what you see.

The impression is based on the look of the thing in front of you. It is used for things that can be judged by sight, and for signs of what is about to happen.

Examples

1. このケーキはおいしそうですね。

   このケーキはおいしそうですね。

   This cake looks delicious.

2. 今にも雨が降りそうだ。

   いまにもあめがふりそうだ。

   It looks as if it is going to rain any moment.

3. 彼は忙しそうだから、後で話そう。

   かれはいそがしそうだから、あとではなそう。

   He looks busy, so let us talk later.

4. この仕事は簡単そうに見えるが、実は難しい。

   このしごとはかんたんそうにみえるが、じつはむずかしい。

   This job looks easy, but is actually hard.

Compare with

• ～そうだ(伝聞): そうだ (hearsay) follows the plain form; そうだ (appearance) follows the stem.
• ～ようだ: ようだ is a broader judgement based on various evidence.

Common mistakes

• Using it for something that is not visible. It is based on appearance.
• Using the plain form before it (おいしいそう). Use the stem (おいしそう).