JLPT N4 Grammar – “〜よう”・”〜みたい”・”〜そう”・”〜らしい” ①

Table of Contents

1. Difference betweeb “〜よう”・”〜みたい”・”〜そう”・”〜らしい”
2. 〜よう
3. 〜みたい
4. 〜そう
5. 〜らしい
6. Let’s Compare
7. Summary
8. Quiz
9. Similar Articles
10. Comment

Q: What are the differences between “〜よう,” “〜みたい,” “〜そう,” and “〜らしい”?

A: “〜よう,” “〜みたい,” “〜そう,” and “〜らしい” are similar expressions but have different usage and nuances.

In summary:
“〜よう”: Mainly used for comparisons, examples, or written inference.
“〜みたい”: Primarily used for comparisons, examples, or spoken inference.
“〜そう”: Based on observable appearances or hearsay.
“〜らしい”: Based on information from others or rumors for inference.

Let’s explore the usage and differences of each.

〜よう (JLPT N4)

[Rule 1: Comparison and Examples]
[V] Verb plain form＋ようだ　
[N] Noun ＋の＋ようだ　

[Examples]
この字じは子こどもが書かいたようです。
This handwriting looks like it was written by a child.

グレープフルーツのような酸すっぱいくだものが苦手にがてです。
I’m not good with fruits that are sour like grapefruit.

赤あかちゃんのような肌はだですね。
You have skin like a baby’s.

この布ぬのは絹きぬのように柔やわらかいです。
This fabric is as soft as silk.

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[Rule 2: Inference]
[V] Verb plain form ＋ようだ
[A] い adjective ＋ようだ
[Na] な adjective＋ようだ
[N] Noun＋の＋ようだ
* When used with nouns and verbs, it becomes similar to な adjectives: “〜ような＋noun” or “〜ように＋verb.”

[Examples]
明日あしたは雨あめが降ふるようです。
It seems like it will rain tomorrow.

娘むすめは学校がっこうが楽たのしいようです。
It seems that my daughter enjoys school.

彼女かのじょはとても親切しんせつなようです。
She appears to be very kind.

彼かれはあの会社かいしゃの社員しゃいんのようです。
He seems to be an employee of that company.

〜みたい (JLPT N4)

[Rule 1: Comparison/Example]
[V] Verb plain form＋みたいだ
[N] Noun＋みたいだ
*When used with nouns and verbs, it becomes similar to な-adjectives: “〜みたいな＋noun” or “〜みたいに＋verb.”

[Examples]
テーマパークで子こどもみたいに遊あそびました。
I played like a child at the theme park.

これ、お酒さけみたいな味あじがするね。
This tastes like alcohol.

ジョンさんは日本にほん人じんみたいに日本にほん語ごが上手じょうずです。
John speaks Japanese as well as a Japanese person.

あの二人ふたりは仲なかがいいし、いつも一緒いっしょにいるし兄弟きょうだいみたいです。
Those two get along well and are always together, like siblings.

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[Rule 2: Inference]
[V] Verb (plain form)＋みたいだ
[A] い adjective＋みたいだ
[Na] な adjectiveな＋みたいだ
[N] Noun＋みたいだ
*When used with nouns and verbs, it becomes similar to na-adjectives: “〜みたいな＋noun” or “〜みたいに＋verb.”

[Examples]　
玄関げんかんで音おとがしたよ、誰だれか来きたみたい。
I heard a noise at the entrance; it seems like someone has arrived.

娘むすめはアメリカでの生活せいかつが楽たのしいみたいです。
It seems that my daughter is enjoying her life in America.

弟おとうとは今日きょうのごはんがきらいみたいです。
It looks like my younger brother doesn’t like today’s meal.

明日あしたは晴はれみたいです。
It looks like it will be sunny tomorrow.

〜そう (JLPT N4)

[Rule 1: Inference and Appearance]
[V] Verb stem form＋そうだ (e.g., ない → なさそうだ)
[A] い adjectiveい ＋そうだ (e.g., いい → よさそうだ)
[Na] な adjectiveな ＋そうだ
*When used with nouns and verbs, it becomes similar to na-adjectives: “〜そうな＋noun” or “〜そうに＋verb.”

[Examples]　
がんばればJLPTに合格ごうかくできそうです。
If I try hard, I might be able to pass the JLPT.

明日あしたの天気てんきは良よさそうです。
Tomorrow’s weather looks good.

いつも父ちちは仕事しごとが大変たいへんそうです。
My father always seems to have a tough time at work.

あまそうなケーキですね。
That cake looks sweet.

子こどもはおいしそうにご飯はんを食たべています。
The child is eating the food as if it’s delicious.

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[Rule 2: Reported Information]
[V] Verb plain form＋そうだ
[A] い adjective plain form＋そうだ
[Na] な adjective plain form＋そうだ
[N] Noun plain form＋そうだ

[Examples]　
山田やまだ君くんは1週間しゅうかん休やすむそうです。
I heard that Yamada will be taking a week off.

天気てんき予報よほうによると明日あしたから天気てんきがいいそうです。
According to the weather forecast, the weather will be nice starting tomorrow.

母ははによると昔むかしこの町まちはとてもきれいだったそうです。
According to my mother, this town used to be very beautiful.

今日きょう父ちちは残業ざんぎょうだそうです。
I heard that my father has to work overtime today.

〜らしい (JLPT N4)

[Rule: Inference]
[V] Verb plain form＋らしい
[A] い adjective plain form＋らしい
[Na] な adjective plain form＋らしい
[N] Noun plain form＋らしい

[Examples]
あの道みちで事故じこがあったらしいです。
I heard there was an accident on that road.

あのレストランは有名ゆうめいなシェフがオーナーでおいしいらしいよ。
That restaurant is said to be delicious because a famous chef is the owner.

アンさんはジョンさんをよく無視むしする。どうもきらいらしい。
Ann often ignores John. It seems she doesn’t like him.

明日あしたは雨あめらしいから、傘かさを持もって行いこう。
It seems it will rain tomorrow, so let’s bring an umbrella.

Let’s Compare

Each of the four usage patterns can be classified as follows:

	Comparison and Example	Inference	Heard Information	Appearance
よう	◯	◯
みたい	◯	◯
そう		◯ (Prediction and Judgment)	◯	◯
らしい		◯	◯

This page will first explore “そう (appearance)” and “よう・みたい (comparison and example).”

[そう (appearance)]

It is used to describe the appearance of something or someone that the speaker has observed.

[Examples]　
雲くもが一ひとつもなくて明日あしたの天気てんきも良よさそうです。
There isn’t a single cloud, so it looks like tomorrow’s weather will be good.

父ちちはいつも朝あさ早はやく家いえを出でて仕事しごとが大変たいへんそうです。
My father always leaves the house early in the morning and it seems that his work is tough.

山田やまださんは病気びょうきで1週間しゅうかん会社かいしゃを休やすんでいたけど、今日きょう会あったら元気げんきそうで安心あんしんしました。
Mr. Yamada was sick and had been absent from work for a week, looked energetic when I saw him today, so I was relieved.

この飲のみ物ものはアイスクリームとチョコレートが入はいっていて、とてもあまそうだね。
This drink contains ice cream and chocolate, so it looks really sweet.
　　　　　

[よう VS みたい (comparison and example)]

When the speaker wants to describe something or a situation by comparing it to something similar, both 「〜よう」 and 「〜みたい」 can be used. There is no change in meaning between the two. However, 「〜よう」 is generally used more in written language, while 「〜みたい」 is commonly used in spoken language.

[Examples]　
手てが氷こおりのように冷つめたいです。
手てが氷こおりみたいに冷つめたいです。　　
My hands are as cold as ice.　　　　　　

A：今日きょうは天気てんきが悪わるいね。
B：うん、まるで嵐あらしでも来くるみたいだよ。
A: The weather is bad today.
B: Yeah, it seems like a storm is coming.
* In this conversation, the use of “みたい” compares the bad weather to a storm, rather than indicating the speaker’s inference that a storm is coming.

Summary

• “そう” expresses the appearance or state of something or someone as observed by the speaker.
• “よう” and “みたい” are used when the speaker compares something or a situation to something similar, based on their observation.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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