Expressing ‘Looks Like’ in Japanese 〜そうだ

In Japanese, the grammar pattern 〜そうだ (sou da) is used to express that something “looks like” or “seems” a certain way based on its appearance. This pattern is useful when describing objects, actions, or situations that give a certain impression. It is often used with adjectives, nouns, and verbs, but its meaning slightly changes depending on the word category.

This blog will guide you through the formation, usage, and different contexts where 〜そうだ (Appearance) can be applied.

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Formation of 〜そうだ (Appearance)

1. Using with Adjectives

• For i-adjectives: Drop the final い (i) and add 〜そうだ.
  • Example: おいしい → おいしそうだ (Oishii → Oishisou da) – “Looks delicious.”
• For na-adjectives: Just add 〜そうだ directly to the adjective.
  • Example: 美しい → 美しそうだ (Utsukushii → Utsukushisou da) – “Looks beautiful.”

2. Using with Verbs

• For verbs (stem form): Take the ます-stem and add 〜そうだ.
  • Example: 雨が降る (Ame ga furu) → 雨が降りそうだ (Ame ga furisou da) – “It looks like it will rain.”

3. Using with Nouns

• Nouns do not usually take the 〜そうだ form when expressing appearance. Instead, のようだ or みたいだ is commonly used.

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Usage of 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form

1. Describing Physical Appearance:

「他は強そうだ」

• Romaji: Kare wa tsuyosou da.
• English: He looks strong.

「このかばんは重そうだ」

• Romaji: Kono kaban wa omosou da.
• English: This bag looks heavy.

2. Expressing Predictions Based on Appearance:

「このケーキは生でたべられそうだ」

• Romaji: Kono kēki wa nama de taberare-sou da.
• English: This cake looks edible raw.

「この車はまだ動きそうだ」

• Romaji: Kono kuruma wa mada ugoki-sou da.
• English: This car looks like it can still run.

3. Talking About Immediate Future Actions:

「雨が降りそうだ」

• Romaji: Ame ga furi-sou da.
• English: It looks like it’s going to rain.

「電車が出発しそうだ」

• Romaji: Densha ga shuppatsu shisou da.
• English: The train looks like it’s about to depart.

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Common Words with 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form:

Here’s a well-structured table with verbs, nouns, and adjectives in their 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form, along with two example sentences for each.

Type	Word	〜そうだ Form	Example Sentence 1	Romaji	English Meaning	Example Sentence 2	Romaji	English Meaning
Verb	食べる (taberu) – to eat	食べられそうだ (taberare-sou da)	このケーキは美味しそうだから食べられそうだ。	Kono kēki wa oishisou dakara taberare-sou da.	This cake looks delicious, so it seems edible.	このスープは熱そうだけど飲めそうだ。	Kono sūpu wa atsusou dakedo nome-sou da.	This soup looks hot, but it seems drinkable.
Verb	壊れる (kowareru) – to break	壊れそうだ (koware-sou da)	この椅子は古くて壊れそうだ。	Kono isu wa furukute koware-sou da.	This chair looks old and about to break.	このおもちゃは落としたら壊れそうだ。	Kono omocha wa otoshitara koware-sou da.	This toy looks like it will break if dropped.
Noun	雨 (ame) – rain	雨が降りそうだ (ame ga furi-sou da)	空が暗くなってきたから、雨が降りそうだ。	Sora ga kuraku natte kita kara, ame ga furi-sou da.	The sky is getting dark, so it looks like it’s going to rain.	風が強くなってきたし、雨が降りそうだね。	Kaze ga tsuyoku natte kita shi, ame ga furi-sou da ne.	The wind is getting stronger, and it looks like it will rain.
Noun	試験 (shiken) – exam	試験が難しそうだ (shiken ga muzukashisou da)	明日の試験は難しそうだ。	Ashita no shiken wa muzukashisou da.	Tomorrow’s exam looks difficult.	先生の説明を聞いて、試験が簡単そうだと思った。	Sensei no setsumei o kiite, shiken ga kantansou da to omotta.	After hearing the teacher’s explanation, I thought the exam looked easy.
Adjective	美味しい (oishii) – delicious	美味しそうだ (oishisou da)	このラーメンは美味しそうだね！	Kono rāmen wa oishisou da ne!	This ramen looks delicious!	おばあちゃんの作ったケーキは美味しそうだ。	Obaachan no tsukutta kēki wa oishisou da.	The cake my grandmother made looks delicious.
Adjective	楽しい (tanoshii) – fun	楽しそうだ (tanoshisou da)	彼らの旅行はとても楽しそうだ。	Karera no ryokō wa totemo tanoshisou da.	Their trip looks really fun.	あの子たちはゲームをしていて楽しそうだね。	Ano kotachi wa gēmu o shiteite tanoshisou da ne.	Those kids look like they’re having fun playing games.
Adjective	寒い (samui) – cold	寒そうだ (samusou da)	彼は薄い服を着ていて寒そうだ。	Kare wa usui fuku o kiteite samusou da.	He is wearing thin clothes and looks cold.	外は雪が降っていてとても寒そうだ。	Soto wa yuki ga futteite totemo samusou da.	It is snowing outside, and it looks very cold.

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More Example Sentences

Here are 10 more example sentences using 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form, along with romaji and English meanings:

1. このスープは熱そうだ。
   • Romaji: Kono sūpu wa atsusou da.
   • English: This soup looks hot.
2. 彼は疲れていそうだ。
   • Romaji: Kare wa tsukareteisou da.
   • English: He looks tired.
3. あの建物は古くて壊れそうだ。
   • Romaji: Ano tatemono wa furukute kowaresou da.
   • English: That building looks old and about to collapse.
4. この箱は軽そうだね。
   • Romaji: Kono hako wa karusou da ne.
   • English: This box looks light.
5. 彼の話は面白そうだ。
   • Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa omoshirosou da.
   • English: His story sounds interesting.
6. この靴は履きやすそうだ。
   • Romaji: Kono kutsu wa haki-yasusou da.
   • English: These shoes look easy to wear.
7. あの犬はおとなしくて優しそうだね。
   • Romaji: Ano inu wa otonashikute yasashisou da ne.
   • English: That dog looks calm and gentle.
8. このカバンは丈夫そうだ。
   • Romaji: Kono kaban wa joubusou da.
   • English: This bag looks durable.
9. 彼女の料理は美味しそうだ。
   • Romaji: Kanojo no ryōri wa oishisou da.
   • English: Her cooking looks delicious.
10. あの道は滑りそうだから気をつけて！

• Romaji: Ano michi wa suberisou dakara ki o tsukete!
• English: That road looks slippery, so be careful!

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Things to Keep in Mind About 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form

When using 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form, there are a few important points to remember:

1. Used for Visual Appearance or Impression

• This form is used when something looks a certain way based on visual observation or impression.
• Example:
  • このケーキは甘そうだ。 (Kono kēki wa amasou da.) → This cake looks sweet. (Judging by appearance, not by tasting it.)

2. Not for First-Hand Experience

• It should not be used when you have direct experience with something (e.g., you actually ate the cake).
• Incorrect: このケーキを食べたけど甘そうだ。(Kono kēki o tabeta kedo amasou da.) ❌
• Correct: このケーキは甘い。(Kono kēki wa amai.) ✅ → This cake is sweet.

3. Different from 〜そうだ (Hearsay)

• 〜そうだ (Appearance) is different from 〜そうだ (Hearsay), which is used to report something you heard from someone else.
• Example (Appearance):
  • 彼は元気そうだ。 (Kare wa genkisou da.) → He looks energetic.
• Example (Hearsay):
  • 彼は元気だそうだ。 (Kare wa genki da sou da.) → I heard that he is energetic.

4. Adjective Conjugation Rules

• For い-adjectives: Remove い and add そうだ.
  • Example: おいしい → おいしそうだ (oishii → oishisou da) → Looks delicious
• For な-adjectives: Just add そうだ.
  • Example: 元気（げんき）→ 元気そうだ (genki → genkisou da) → Looks healthy

5. Special Case: Negative Form

• To say “doesn’t look ~,” change ない to なさそうだ.
  • Example:
    • 美味しくない (oishikunai) → 美味しくなさそうだ (oishikunasa sou da) → Doesn’t look delicious.
    • 元気じゃない (genki janai) → 元気じゃなさそうだ (genki janasa sou da) → Doesn’t look healthy.

6. Verb Usage: Potential & Immediate Action

• For potential actions: Use the stem of the potential form of the verb + そうだ.
  • Example: この橋は渡れそうだ。(Kono hashi wa watare-sou da.) → This bridge looks crossable.
• For immediate actions: Use the stem of the dictionary form + そうだ.
  • Example: 雨が降りそうだ。(Ame ga furi-sou da.) → It looks like it’s going to rain soon.

7. Special Irregular Adjectives

• いい (good) → よさそうだ (yosasou da) → Looks good.
• ない (not existing) → なさそうだ (nasasou da) → Doesn’t seem to exist.

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Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct 〜そうだ form of the given words.

Questions:

1. このスープは _______ (熱い) ですね！気をつけて！
2. 彼は昨日から寝ていないみたいで、とても _______ (疲れる)。
3. あの子はとても _______ (賢い) ね！
4. この橋は古くて _______ (壊れる)。
5. あの店のラーメンは _______ (美味しい)。
6. 今日は空が暗くて、雨が _______ (降る)。
7. このかばんはとても _______ (丈夫) ですね。
8. 彼女の話は _______ (面白い)。
9. この靴は _______ (歩きやすい)。
10. この椅子は _______ (座りにくい) から、別のを使おう。

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Answers:

1. 熱そうだ (atsusou da)
2. 疲れていそうだ (tsukareteisou da)
3. 賢そうだ (kashikoso da)
4. 壊れそうだ (kowaresou da)
5. 美味しそうだ (oishisou da)
6. 降りそうだ (furisou da)
7. 丈夫そうだ (joubusou da)
8. 面白そうだ (omoshirosou da)
9. 歩きやすそうだ (arukiyasusou da)
10. 座りにくそうだ (suwarinikusou da)

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Conclusion

Mastering 〜そうだ (Appearance) Form is a great way to express observations and predictions based on how things look. Whether describing someone’s emotions, the taste of food, or a future event, this grammar pattern helps make your Japanese sound more natural and fluent.

By understanding its conjugation rules, differences from hearsay 〜そうだ, and special cases, you can use it confidently in daily conversations. Keep practicing with real-life examples, and soon, you’ll be able to describe appearances effortlessly in Japanese!

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to explore more Japanese grammar lessons and keep improving your language skills.

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• JAPANESE
  • Japanese – Advanced
  • Japanese – Beginner
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