Japanese Grammar: ~そうです (Sou desu / Appearance) – Usage & Examples

Grammar

Sentence Pattern: Verb (Polite-form) + そうです (It looks like ~)

Sentence Pattern: Verb (Polite-form) + soudesu

Grammar Explanation: It looks like ~

ようたい」の「そうだ」ははないんしょうちをあらわします。

The appearance form “そうです (Sou desu)” expresses the speaker’s impression or judgment based on what they see.

Imminence: Something that is about to happen at any moment

Ex.: 今にもあめりそうです。

Rm.: Imanimo ame ga furisou desu.

En.: It looks like it’s going to rain at any moment.

Speculation: A subjective inference made by the speaker

Ex.: これからぶっがりそうです。

Rm.: Korekara bukka ga agarisou desu.

En.: Prices look like they’re going to go up (from now on).

Sentence Pattern: I-adjective (い) + そうです (It looks like ~)

Sentence Pattern: I-adjective() + soudesu

Grammar Explanation: It looks like ~

Ex.: このケーキ、おいしそう!(このケーキはおいしそうです。)

Note:おいしい→おいし

Rm.: Kono keki, oishiso! (Kono keki wa oishisou desu.)

En.: This cake looks delicious.

かつようれいがい(詞形變化的例外)

Exception: The i-adjective “ii” becomes “yosasoudesu”.

Ex.: このいぬあたまがよさそうです。

Rm.: Kono inu wa atama ga yosasou desu.

En.: This dog looks smart.

Exception: The i-adjective “nai” becomes “nasasoudesu”.

Ex.: このいぬかしこくなさそうです。

Rm.: Kono inu wa kashikoku nasasou desu.

En.: This dog doesn’t look smart.

Sentence Pattern: Na-adjective () + soudesu

Grammar Explanation: It looks like ~

Ex.: すずさんはひまそうです。

Noteひまな→ひま

Rm.: Suzuki-san wa hima sou desu.

En.: Mr. Suzuki doesn’t look busy.

Reference: Minna no Nihongo Lesson 43

Japanese Grammar (日本語文法)
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