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JLPT N4 grammar comparison

〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to" vs 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"

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The difference

From the 〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to" lesson

〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of": らしい is based on outside information; そうだ (appearance) is based on your own eyes.

From the 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" lesson

〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to": Appearance そうだ is an instant visual impression on the stem (辞めそう). らしい is about information.

Side by side

〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to"

sou da (youtai) · JLPT N4

Meaning
Judgement from direct visual impression: "looks (delicious)", "about to (fall)".
Formation
V-ます stem + そうだ: 降りそうだ, 落ちそうだ, 泣きそうだい-adjective (drop い) + そうだ: おいしそうだ, 高そうだ; いい → よさそうだ; ない → なさそうだな-adjective stem + そうだ: 元気そうだ, 暇そうだNegative: verbs 〜そうもない / そうにない; adjectives 〜くなさそう / 〜じゃなさそうBefore a noun: 〜そうな N; as an adverb: 〜そうに

  1. 雨が降りそうです。

    あめが ふりそうです。

    It looks like it's going to rain.

  2. 彼は元気そうに見えました。

    かれは げんきそうに みえました。

    He looked well.

Full lesson on 〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to"

〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"

rashii · JLPT N4

Meaning
(1) Conjecture based on external information, weaker commitment than そうだ (hearsay); (2) N + らしい = "typical of / true to being".
Formation
V-plain + らしい: 辞めるらしい, 引っ越したらしいい-adjective + らしい: 高いらしいな-adjective / Noun + らしい (no だ): 静からしい, 学生らしいN + らしい (typical of): 春らしい, 男らしい, 先生らしいConjugates as い-adjective: らしくない, らしかった, らしくて

  1. 山田さんは会社を辞めるらしい。

    やまださんは かいしゃを やめるらしい。

    Apparently Yamada is quitting the company.

  2. 隣の家に新しい人が引っ越してきたらしいです。

    となりの いえに あたらしい ひとが ひっこしてきたらしいです。

    It seems new people have moved in next door.

Full lesson on 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to" and 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"?

らしい is based on outside information; そうだ (appearance) is based on your own eyes.

When do you use 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" instead of 〜そうだ (appearance) "looks like / seems about to"?

Appearance そうだ is an instant visual impression on the stem (辞めそう). らしい is about information.