らしい
らしい
auxiliary adjective
seems like, apparently, I heard that
1.
seems like, apparently, I heard that
Indicates hearsay or inference based on evidence. Used when the speaker has indirect information suggesting something is likely true.
2.
typical of, befitting
Attached to nouns to mean 'like' or 'typical of' that noun.
男らしい人。
A manly person.
らしい has two distinct uses with different grammatical behavior.
SENSE 1 — HEARSAY/INFERENCE:
Attaches to the plain form of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Indicates the speaker has indirect evidence or heard from someone.
- 雨らしい (apparently it's rain / it seems like rain)
- 来ないらしい (apparently [they] won't come)
- 彼は学生らしい (I hear he's a student)
SENSE 2 — TYPICAL OF:
Attaches to nouns. Means "-like" or "befitting."
- 男らしい (manly, befitting a man)
- 子供らしい (childlike)
- 春らしい天気 (weather befitting spring)
CONTRAST WITH SIMILAR FORMS:
- らしい: hearsay or inference (secondhand information)
- そうだ (hearsay): I heard that... (reporting what someone said)
- そうだ (appearance): looks like... (based on visual impression)
- ようだ: it appears (based on the speaker's own observation)
- みたいだ: seems like (casual equivalent of ようだ)