〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"
rashii
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
(1) Conjecture based on external information, weaker commitment than そうだ (hearsay); (2) N + らしい = "typical of / true to being".
〜らしい has two jobs. (1) "Apparently / it seems", based on what you heard or read, but with a little of your own judgement mixed in: 山田さんは会社を辞めるらしい = apparently Yamada is quitting. It is less direct than hearsay そうだ and keeps some distance from the information. (2) Noun + らしい = "typical of / true to": 春らしい天気 = spring-like weather, 男らしい = manly. らしい conjugates like an い-adjective (らしくない, らしかった).
Sharing news you are not fully sure about (rumours, things overheard), and describing things that fit their type perfectly (学生らしい学生, 日本らしいお土産). Common in conversation; in formal writing ようだ is preferred for guesses.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
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
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Attaches to | Basis | Certainty | Example (Tanaka is quitting) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| そうだ (hearsay) | plain form + そうだ (N / な-adj + だそうだ) | what I was told | just reporting | 田中さんは辞めるそうだ (I hear he's quitting) |
| らしい | plain form; N / な-adj + らしい | outside information + my guess | fairly likely, but distanced | 田中さんは辞めるらしい (apparently he's quitting) |
| ようだ / みたいだ | plain form; N のようだ / N みたいだ | my own senses and reasoning | my conclusion | 田中さんは辞めるようだ (it seems he's quitting) |
| そうだ (appearance) | stem: 辞め + そうだ | what I see now | about to happen | 田中さんは辞めそうだ (he looks about to quit) |
Natural examples
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.
Rumour-level information: plain verb 辞める + らしい.
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.
Signs seen and things heard combine: 引っ越してきた + らしい.
今日は春らしい暖かい日ですね。
きょうは はるらしい あたたかい ひですね。
Today is a warm, spring-like day.
Noun 春 + らしい: 'typical of spring'.
聞いた話では、あの店は来月閉まるらしいよ。
きいた はなしでは、あの みせは らいげつ しまるらしいよ。
From what I heard, that shop is apparently closing next month.
らしい passes on second-hand information with a bit of distance.
今日は彼らしくない。いつもは明るいのに。
きょうは かれらしくない。いつもは あかるいのに。
He's not himself today. He's usually cheerful.
N + らしくない: not typical of him; らしい conjugates like an い-adjective.
Similar grammar and the difference
Hearsay そうだ reports directly, with no judgement. らしい adds "apparently" and sounds less sure. Compare side by side
ようだ is based on the speaker's own observation. N のようだ = looks like (but is not); N らしい = truly typical of. Compare side by side
Appearance そうだ is an instant visual impression on the stem (辞めそう). らしい is about information. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 田中さんは学生だらしい。
- ✓
- 田中さんは学生らしい。
- Why
- Nouns and な-adjectives attach to らしい directly, without だ.
- ✗
- 彼は男のようだ。(meaning 'he is manly')
- ✓
- 彼は男らしい。
- Why
- 男のようだ means "looks like a man (but may not be)". 'Typical of a man' is 男らしい.
- ✗
- 自分のことを「私は病気らしい」と言う。
- ✓
- 私は病気のようだ。/ 病気みたいだ。
- Why
- らしい is for information about others. About your own condition, judged from how you feel, use ようだ / みたいだ.
Verb + らしい is safe when you want to pass on news without taking responsibility for it. The 'typical of' meaning is common with seasons and roles: 夏らしい, 子供らしい, 学生らしい服装. らしい can be softened further with どうも: どうも田中さんは辞めるらしい.
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- Attachment is the first test: N / な-adj + らしい without だ. If you see だらしい, it is wrong.
- Meaning cues: 聞いた話では, うわさでは → らしい or hearsay そうだ; 〜らしい + N (春らしい日) → 'typical of'. If the speaker judges from their own senses, ようだ is more appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" mean?
(1) Conjecture based on external information, weaker commitment than そうだ (hearsay); (2) N + らしい = "typical of / true to being". 〜らしい has two jobs. (1) "Apparently / it seems", based on what you heard or read, but with a little of your own judgement mixed in: 山田さんは会社を辞めるらしい = apparently Yamada is quitting. It is less direct than hearsay そうだ and keeps some distance from the information. (2) Noun + らしい = "typical of / true to": 春らしい天気 = spring-like weather, 男らしい = manly. らしい conjugates like an い-adjective (らしくない, らしかった).
How do you form 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"?
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. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" used?
Sharing news you are not fully sure about (rumours, things overheard), and describing things that fit their type perfectly (学生らしい学生, 日本らしいお土産). Common in conversation; in formal writing ようだ is preferred for guesses.
What is the difference between 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" and 〜そうだ (hearsay)?
Hearsay そうだ reports directly, with no judgement. らしい adds "apparently" and sounds less sure.
What is the difference between 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of" and 〜ようだ / 〜みたいだ?
ようだ is based on the speaker's own observation. N のようだ = looks like (but is not); N らしい = truly typical of.
What is a common mistake with 〜らしい "seems (from what I hear) / typical of"?
Wrong: 田中さんは学生だらしい。 Right: 田中さんは学生らしい。 Nouns and な-adjectives attach to らしい directly, without だ.
Quick check
うわさでは、あの二人は来年（ ）らしい。