Genki Grammar #79: Mastering -soudesu (It looks like…)

Introduction

In Japanese, we use そうです (soudesu) to describe something that “looks like” or “seems” a certain way based on our impressions. This lesson will help you understand how to use そうです correctly and effectively.

What It Means

The phrase そうです is added to the base of い-adjectives and な-adjectives to express that something appears to have certain qualities. When you say something looks like this or that with -そうです, you are making a guess based on what you perceive.

When You Use It

You use そうです when you want to describe how something seems to you. It’s like saying, “It looks like…” or “It seems…” in English.

Examples

Let’s see how そうです works with different adjectives:

1. このパンはおいしそうです。(Kono pan wa oishisou desu.)
   This bread looks delicious.
2. 来週は天気がよさそうです。(Raishuu wa tenki ga yosasou desu.)
   It looks like the weather will be good next week.
3. マリアさんは元気そうでした。(Maria-san wa genkisou deshita.)
   Maria looks like she was doing well.

To form sentences with そうです:

• い-adjectives: Drop the final い and add そうです.
  • Example: おいしい (oishii) → おいしそうです (oishisou desu)
  • Exception: いい (ii) changes to よさそうです (yosasou desu).
• な-adjectives: Just drop the な and add そうです.
  • Example: 元気な (genki na) → 元気そうです (genkisou desu)

You can also use そうです with negative adjectives. In this case, the negative ending ない (nai) changes to なさ (nasa) before そうです.

• 日本語は難しくなさそうです。(Nihongo wa muzukashiku nasasou desu.)
  Japanese does not look difficult.
• マリアさんはテニスが上手じゃなさそうです。(Maria-san wa tenisu ga jouzu ja nasasou desu.)
  It does not look like Maria is good at tennis.

Qualifying Nouns

You can use the adjective + そう combination to describe a noun. Since そう is a な-adjective, you say そうな before a noun.

• 暖かそうな服を着ています。(Atatakasou na fuku o kiteimasu.)
  She is wearing warm-looking clothes.

Visual Impressions and More

While many そうです sentences are based on visual impressions, そうです is not limited to what you see. It’s used when you make a guess without clear proof. For example, you might say an apple looks delicious (おいしそう) before tasting it. However, if you can see something clearly, like a beautiful flower, you wouldn’t use そうです because you already have evidence that it’s pretty.

Note

You can also use そうです with a verb stem to describe your impression or guess about an action.

• この服は家で洗えそうです。(Kono fuku wa ie de araesou desu.)
  It looks like these clothes are washable at home.
• 雨が降りそうです。(Ame ga furisou desu.)
  It looks like it will rain.

Instead of negating the adjective, you can also use the negative form of そうです:

• 日本語は難しそうじゃないです。(Nihongo wa muzukashisou ja nai desu.)
  Japanese doesn’t seem difficult.
• マリアさんはテニスが上手そうじゃないです。(Maria-san wa tenisu ga jouzusou ja nai desu.)
  Maria doesn’t seem good at tennis.

Conclusion

Mastering そうです will let you express your impressions and make guesses in Japanese.