そうだ

そうだ
auxiliary
I heard that, it seems
grammatical
1. I heard that, they say that
Expresses hearsay - information the speaker learned from another source. Attaches to the plain form of verbs/adjectives.
来月(らいげつ)新(あたら)しい店(みせ)ができるそうだ。
I heard a new store will open next month.
Hearsay usage
彼(かれ)は本当(ほんとう)に努力(どりょく)したそうだ。
I heard he really worked hard.
Hearsay usage
2. it looks like, it seems
Expresses appearance or conjecture based on direct observation. Attaches to the verb stem or adjective stem.
雨(あめ)が降(ふ)りそうだ。
It looks like it's going to rain.
Appearance usage - verb stem + そうだ
このケーキはおいしそうだ。
This cake looks delicious.
Appearance usage - adjective stem + そうだ

Grammatical distinction

1. HEARSAY (〜そうだ):

2. APPEARANCE (〜そうだ):

  • Attaches to stem: 行(い)きそうだ, 高(たか)そうだ, 静(しず)かそうだ
  • Meaning: "It looks like..."
  • Source: Speaker's own observation

Conjugation

Note: Pay attention to what そうだ attaches to - this determines the meaning completely.

Related Words

Compare: らしい (conjecture, hearsay)
Compare: そうそう (yeah yeah, that's right)
Compare: ようだ (it seems)
Compare: みたいだ (it seems)
Compare: そうや (that's right)
general
Added 2026.2.5 11:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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