JLPT N4 Grammar – 4 Types of “〜そう”

Q: I think there are several grammar forms of “〜そう” in Japanese. Could you explain the differences?

A: In Japanese, there are four types of the grammar pattern “〜そう”.
They are “hearsay”, “appearance”, “prediction/judgment”, and “immediate occurrence”.
Let’s take a closer look at each one.

① Hearsay

[Meaning]
Conveying information obtained from someone or something

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋そう
[A] い adjective plain form＋そう
[Na] な adjective plain form ＋そう
[N] Noun plain form ＋そう

[Examples]
山田やまださんによると、木村きむらさんは来月らいげつ東京とうきょうに引っ越ひ　こすそうです。
According to Mr. Yamada, Mr. Kimura is going to move to Tokyo next month.

天気てんき予報よほうによると来週らいしゅうの天気てんきはよくないそうです。
According to the weather forecast, the weather next week is not going to be good.

母ははによると若わかいとき父ちちは仕事しごとが大変たいへんだったそうです。
According to my mother, my father had a hard time at work when he was young.

木村きむらさんによると、つぎの休やすみは雨あめだそうです。
According to Mr. Kimura, it’s going to rain on the next day off.

② Appearance

[Meaning]
Conveying impressions based on what the speaker sees

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + そう
[A] い adjective stem + そう
[Na] な adjective stem + そう

* In the negative form, “ない” becomes “なさそう”.
* “いい” changes to “よい” and becomes “よさそう”.
* “そう” functions like a な-adjective and can be followed by a noun.
* It cannot be used directly with nouns.

[Examples]
子供こどもが楽たのしそうに遊あそんでいます。 　
The children seem to be playing happily.

赤あかちゃんがとても気持きもちよさそうに寝ねています。
The baby seems to be sleeping very comfortably.

木村きむらさんは毎朝まいあさランニングをして元気げんきそうです。 　
Mr. Kimura goes running every morning and seems healthy.

元気げんきそうな顔かおが見みられて安心あんしんしました。
Seeing his energetic face is reassuring.

山田やまださんはいい時計とけいとかばんを使つかっていて、お金かねを持もっていそうですね。
Mr. Yamada uses a nice watch and bag, he seems to have money.

あの人ひとはあまりお金かねがなさそうですね。
That person doesn’t seem to have much money.

③ Prediction & Judgment

[Meaning]
Conveying predictions or judgments based on circumstances or reasons

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + そう
[A] い adjective stem + そう
[Na] な adjective stem + そう

* When used in the negative form, it becomes “そうもない”.
* “いい” changes to “よい” and becomes “よさそう”.
* It cannot be used with nouns.

[Examples]
このパソコンは古ふるいけど、ちゃんと動うごくしまだ使つかえそうです。 　
This computer is old, but it still works and seems usable.

今日きょうはとても忙いそがしくて18時じまでに帰かえれそうもないです。
Today is very busy, and it doesn’t look like I can get home by 6 PM.

このスマホは画面がめんも大おおきいし、見みやすそうです。 　
This smartphone has a large screen and seems easy to see.

あのピンクの服ふく、娘むすめによさそうです。
That pink dress looks good on my daughter.

このアパートは駅えきから遠とおいし不便ふべんそうです。
This apartment is far from the station and seems inconvenient.

④ Imminent

[Meaning]
Expressing the speaker’s observation that something is about to happen soon or in the near future

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem form＋そう

* “そう” functions like a な-adjective and can be followed by a noun.
* It cannot be used with adjectives or nouns.

[Examples]
空そらが暗くらくなってきたから、雨あめが降ふりそうですね。
It’s getting dark, so it looks like it’s going to rain.

もうすぐあの桜さくらが咲さきそうです。 　
Those cherry blossoms look like they will bloom soon.

女おんなの子こは泣なきそうな顔かおでお母かあさんを待まっています。
The girl is waiting for her mother with a face that looks like she’s about to cry.

Let’s Compare

◆ “Hearsay” VS “Appearance”: The key is where the information comes from

● Hearsay “〜そう”
Hearsay is used when the speaker has not actually seen the situation themselves and is reporting information obtained from someone or something else.
The basis of the information comes from external sources such as another person’s statement, news, or a weather forecast.

• The speaker has not seen the event personally
• The source of the information appears in the sentence (e.g., “〜によると”, “〜によれば”)

[Example]
天気てんき予報よほうによると、明日あしたは雨あめだそうです。

According to the weather forecast, it’s going to rain tomorrow.
⇒ The speaker is not judging based on looking at the sky. They are reporting what they heard from the forecast.

● Appearance “〜そう”
Appearance “〜そう” is used when the speaker judges something based on what they see with their own eyes.
The speaker observes the situation directly and expresses what they feel or sense from the appearance, mood, or overall impression.

• The basis is visual information or atmosphere
• The judgment comes from what is actually seen: appearance, facial expression, movement, etc.
• It is sensory and subjective, allowing flexible description of details

[Example]

空そらが暗くらいし、雨あめが降ふりそうです。

The sky is dark, so it looks like it’s going to rain.
⇒ This is a judgment based on what the speaker sees directly.

	Source of information	Did the speaker see it themselves?	Nuance	Common expressions
Hearsay	Someone else, news, forecast	Did not see it	Objective / reporting	〜によると、〜の話はなしでは
Appearance	What the speaker saw with their own eyes	Did see it	Subjective / impression	〜そうに見みえる、〜そうだ

◆ “Prediction/Judgment” VS “Imminent”: The key is the time distance

● Prediction/Judgment “〜そう”
This type expresses a conclusion that the speaker reaches by thinking based on situations, reasons, or conditions.
The speaker analyzes the current state or circumstances and judges that something is likely to happen.

• The basis is “situation”, “reason”, or “condition”
• The judgment is made not only from appearance but also from background information
• It is similar to “appearance 〜そう”, but more logical and analyticalてき

[Example]
今日きょうは忙いそがしいから、18時じまでに帰かえれそうもないです。
I’m busy today, so it doesn’t look like I can get home by 6 PM.
⇒ This is a logical judgment based on the situation (being busy).

● Imminent “〜そう”
This type is used when the speaker feels that something is about to happen right now.
It expresses a situation where a change seems imminent and the timing is very close—almost happening before your eyes.

• The change in state has already begun
• Can be replaced with expressions like “any moment now” or “very soon”
• Often used with emotional expressions such as “about to cry” or “about to collapse”

[Example]
あの子こ、泣なきそうです。
That child looks like she is about to cry.
⇒ The speaker judges this based on seeing the moment just before tears appear.

	Basis	Time distance	Nuance	Common forms
Prediction/Judgment	Situation, reason, analysis	Future events; includes things that may happen a little later	Possibility, speculation	〜そうだ、〜そうもない
Imminent	Ongoing change; signs that something is about to happen	Happens very soon; within seconds or minutes	Almost certain to occur	〜そうだ、〜そうな＋名詞めいし

Summary

Type	Basis	Meaning image	Usable parts of speech
Hearsay	Information heard from someone or another source	“I heard that 〜”	Verbs, い adjectives, な adjectives, nouns
Appearance	What the speaker feels based on what they see	“It looks/seems 〜 based on appearance”	Verb stem, い adjective stem, な adjective stem
Prediction/Judgment	A conclusion based on reasons or circumstances	“Given these conditions, it will probably 〜”	Verb stem, い adjective stem, な adjective stem
Imminent	What the speaker feels is about to happen right now	“About to 〜 any moment”	Verb stems

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.