Can I use そうです for actions too?

Yes. V-stem + そうです means “It looks like it’s about to happen.” Example: 雪が降りそうです。(yuki ga furiso desu / It looks like it will snow.)

What’s the difference between 見える and そうです?

そうです is your impression. 見える means something can be physically seen.

Can I use it for people’s emotions?

Yes! Example: ナンシーさんはプレゼントをもらってうれしそうです。= Nancy looks happy to receive a gift.

How is using 「〜そうです」 different from using 「〜ようです」(you desu) or 「〜みたいです」(mitai desu)?

These are all ways to express that something "looks like" or "seems like," but they are based on different types of evidence or have different nuances: 〜そうです: Indicates that the judgment is based on direct sensory observation , primarily visual appearance. (e.g., 「熱そうです」 - Looks hot based on seeing steam). It often feels like a relatively direct interpretation of appearance. 〜ようです / 〜みたいです: Indicate that the judgment is based on inference or indirect evidence, or similarity . They can be based on things you see, hear, or are told, but often involve more interpretation or comparison than そうです. (e.g., 「疲れているようです / みたいです」 - Looks/seems tired based on their slow movements or tone of voice). 「みたいです」 is generally more casual than 「ようです」.

How to Say “It Looks Like” in Japanese | Using Adjective Stem + sou desu（〜そうです）

Q: Can I use it for people’s emotions?

Yes! Example: ナンシーさんはプレゼントをもらって うれしそうです 。= Nancy looks happy to receive a gift.

contents

Introduction
1. Basic Grammar Structure
2. How to Make the Adj-stem
3. How to Express Negative Looks
4. Example Sentences
5. V-stem + そうです
6. Practice Time!
- Bonus: Negative Practice
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
8. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
9. Conclusion
- Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?

Introduction

Want to say things like:

“This coffee looks hot”?
“That pizza doesn’t look delicious”?
“It looks like it will snow tonight”?

In Japanese, when you guess or observe something based on appearance, you can use the simple and natural structure:

Adjective stem + そうです
= It looks like ~ / It seems ~

Let’s learn how to describe what things look like naturally!

1. Basic Grammar Structure

Pattern: Adjective (stem form) + そうです

English	Japanese
This black tea looks hot.	この紅茶こうちゃは熱あつそうです。
The pizza doesn’t look delicious.	このピザはおいしくなさそうです。

2. How to Make the Adj-stem

い-adj : remove い (おいしい　→　おいし) + そう
な-adj: remove な (にぎやかな→　にぎやか) + そう

Type	How to Form	Example
い-adjectives	Remove い	たかい → たかそう
な-adjectives	Remove な	しずかな → しずかそう

Exception: いい（良よい, good）　いい → よさそう

3. How to Express Negative Looks

To say “doesn’t look ~”, use なさそうです.

Type	Example
い-adjective	おいしくなさそうです (doesn’t look tasty)
な-adjective / noun	元気げんきじゃなさそうです (doesn’t look healthy)

4. Example Sentences

このケーキはおいしそうです。
= This cake looks delicious.
あのカメラは高たかそうです。
= That camera looks expensive.
このカレーは辛からくなさそうです。
= This curry doesn’t look spicy.
あの人ひとは元気げんきじゃなさそうです。
= That person doesn’t look well.

5. V-stem + そうです

We just learned adjective + そうです, but “V-stem + そうです” is also possible.
This can express the state of the moment before something happens;
in other word, it means that something is just about to happen.

今晩こんばんは雪ゆきが降ふりそうです。= It looks like it’s going to snow tonight. (temperature is below 0, for example)

テストで悪わるい点てんをとりました。お母かあさんが怒おこりそうです。= I got a bad grade on a test. My mother is going to be upset.

6. Practice Time!

Turn these into natural 〜そうです sentences:

Adjective	そうです Form	English
暑あつい	暑そうです	Looks hot
寒さむい	寒そうです	Looks cold
悲かなしい	悲しそうです	Looks sad
幸しあわせ（な）	幸せそうです	Looks happy
暇ひま（な）	暇そうです	Looks free (not busy)

Bonus: Negative Practice

Adjective	なさそう Form	English
おいしい	おいしくなさそうです	Doesn’t look delicious
幸せ（な）	幸せじゃなさそうです	Doesn’t look happy
元気（な）	元気じゃなさそうです	Doesn’t look energetic

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
おいしいそうです	おいしそうです
いいそうです	よさそうです

💡 Remember:

Remove い from い-adjectives
Remove な from な-adjectives
いい → よさそう (exception!)

8. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q Can I use そうです for actions too?: A
Yes. V-stem + そうです means “It looks like it’s about to happen.”
Example: 雪が降りそうです。(yuki ga furiso desu / It looks like it will snow.)

Q What’s the difference between 見える and そうです?: A
そうです is your impression. 見える means something can be physically seen.

Q Can I use it for people’s emotions?: A
Yes! Example: ナンシーさんはプレゼントをもらってうれしそうです。= Nancy looks happy to receive a gift.

Q How is using 「〜そうです」 different from using 「〜ようです」(you desu) or 「〜みたいです」(mitai desu)?: A
These are all ways to express that something “looks like” or “seems like,” but they are based on different types of evidence or have different nuances:
〜そうです: Indicates that the judgment is based on direct sensory observation, primarily visual appearance. (e.g., 「熱そうです」 – Looks hot based on seeing steam). It often feels like a relatively direct interpretation of appearance.
〜ようです / 〜みたいです: Indicate that the judgment is based on inference or indirect evidence, or similarity. They can be based on things you see, hear, or are told, but often involve more interpretation or comparison than そうです. (e.g., 「疲れているようです / みたいです」 – Looks/seems tired based on their slow movements or tone of voice). 「みたいです」 is generally more casual than 「ようです」.

9. Conclusion

Now you can:

✅ Describe things based on how they look
✅ Use both positive and negative そうです forms
✅ Sound more natural and expressive in daily conversation

🎯 Try this:
Look around you and make 5 “looks like…” sentences in Japanese using Adj-stem + そうです!

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