そうだ
🃏 Flashcard
そうだ
sou da [2]
Tap to reveal usage
looks like; appears like
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
sou da [2]
Post ID
50762
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
looks like; appears like
📖 How to use it
Indicates that something appears or looks a certain way based on direct observation or impression.
Attaches to
Attach そうだ to the ます-stem of verbs (e.g., 降りそうだ), and to the stem of い-adjectives (e.g., 高そうだ) and な-adjectives (e.g., 静かそうだ). For nouns, use の + そうだ is not standard; instead use みたいだ for appearance with nouns.
そうだ is used when you make a judgment based on what you see, hear, or sense directly. It often translates as 'looks like' or 'seems'. For verbs, it expresses that something is about to happen or appears to be happening. For adjectives, it describes the appearance of a quality.
Be careful not to confuse this with the homophone そうだ meaning 'I heard that', which follows plain forms and is used for hearsay. The two are different grammar points with different attachments.
Also note that for い-adjectives like ない and いい, the stem changes: なさそうだ for ない, and よさそうだ for いい.
雨が降りそうだ。
Ame ga furisou da.
It looks like it's going to rain.
このケーキはおいしそうだ。
Kono keeki wa oishisou da.
This cake looks delicious.
彼は元気そうだ。
Kare wa genki sou da.
He looks healthy.
Not そうだ (hearsay)
The hearsay そうだ follows plain forms (dictionary, past, etc.) and means 'I heard'. The appearance そうだ follows ます-stems and adjective stems. For example, 雨が降るそうだ means 'I heard it will rain', but 雨が降りそうだ means 'It looks like rain'.
Register
Neutral and common in both spoken and written Japanese.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
そうだ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat そうだ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using そうだ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern そうだ mean?
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Looks like; appears like
What JLPT level is そうだ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use そうだ in a sentence?
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Attach そうだ (sou da [2]) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is そうだ formal or casual Japanese?
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そうだ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember そうだ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.