Introduction
Want to say “I heard that…” or “They say that…” in Japanese?
You can use the grammar pattern:
👉 Short (plain) form + そうです
This structure is used to report information you heard from someone else — perfect for news, gossip, or sharing updates. Let’s dive in!
1. Grammar Structure
Pattern: Short (plain) form + そうです
= I heard that ～ / They say that ～
Take the short (plain) form of:
- Verbs
- い-adjectives
- な-adjectives + だ
- Nouns + だ
Then, add そうです after it.
| Verb/Adjective Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Verb (plain) | 雨が降るそうです。= I hear it will rain. |
| い-adjective | この映画はおもしろいそうです。= I hear this movie is interesting. |
| な-adjective | あの人は親切だそうです。= I hear that person is kind. |
| Noun + だ | 明日は雨だそうです。= I heard it’ll rain tomorrow. |
For な-adjectives and nouns, don’t forget the だ before そうです!
- Incorrect: 雨そうです、新切そうです
- Correct: 雨だそうです、親切だそうです
Note: The short (plain) form is the dictionary form for present affirmative verbs (行く), the ない form for negative verbs (行かない), the dictionary form for present affirmative i-adjectives (高い), ない form for negative i-adjectives (高くない), the だ form for present affirmative na-adjectives (きれいだ), じゃない form for negative na-adjectives (きれいじゃない), and the だ form for present affirmative nouns (学生だ), じゃない form for negative nouns (学生じゃない).
If you are not sure about the short forms, review Lesson 8 – Level 1.
2. How to Use It
Use the short (plain) form of the verb, adjective, or noun followed by そうです to express that you have heard something or received information from someone.
This structure means “I hear that~” or “It is said that~.”
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 先生は優しいそうです。 | I hear the teacher is nice. |
| 今日、授業がなかったそうです。 | I heard there was no class today. |
| ニュースによると、その番組は来月 終わるそうです。 | According to the news, the program will end next month. |
This pattern is exclusively for secondhand information. You’re reporting what you’ve been told or have read, not something you’ve personally witnessed or concluded.
3. Caution: Not the Same as “Looks like”
Be careful not to confuse this with a very similar phrase we learned: Adj (stem) + そうです (“looks like…”).
They are both used with adjectives, but そうです (I hear) connects to their short forms, whereas そうです (looks like) connects to their stems.
Example: おいしい (い-adjective, delicious)
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adj-stem + そうです | “Looks like ~” |
| Short form + そうです | “I hear that ~” |
このケーキはおいしそうです。
This cake looks delicious.
このケーキはおいしいそうです。姉がそう言っていました。
I hear this cake is delicious. My sister said so.
4. Practice Time!
Try turning these into “I heard that ~” using そうです:
| Situation | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Takeshi got a job. | たけしさんは就職したそうです。 |
| The teacher is kind. | 先生は親切だそうです。 |
| It will snow tomorrow. | 明日は雪が降るそうです。 |
| The weather is terrible today. | 今日の天気は最悪だそうです。 |
| Mari got divorced last month. | マリさんは先月 離婚したそうです。 |
🎯 Try writing 3 of your own “I heard that…” sentences!
5. Add the Information Source (～によると)
You can include your information source by using ～によると:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 天気予報によると、明日は雨だそうです。 | According to the weather forecast, I heard it will rain tomorrow. |
| 母によると、たけしさんは就職したそうです。 | According to my mom, Takeshi got a job. |
6. Common Mistakes
- If you want to say “I heard that…”:
❌ 雪が降りそうです。→ This means “It looks like it will snow.”
✅ 雪が降るそうです。→ I heard it will snow. - Do not forget “だ” with nouns/な-adjectives.
❌ 明日は雨そうです。
✅ Correct: 明日は雨だそうです。→ I heard it will rain tomorrow.
7. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QCan I use 〜そうです to talk about my own thoughts or observations?
- A
No, 〜そうです (when preceded by the plain form) is strictly for secondhand information. You cannot use it to report your own direct experiences, thoughts, or observations.
- QWhat’s the main difference between 〜そうです (I heard that) and 〜らしいです (It seems that/I heard that)?
- A
Both patterns convey secondhand information, but they have subtle nuances:
- 〜そうです (plain form + そうです): Indicates information you’ve directly heard (or read) from a specific source, like news, a person, or a rumor. It’s often used when you’re simply relaying the information without much personal judgment.
- 〜らしいです (plain form + らしいです): Suggests information based on indirect evidence, observation, or general knowledge. It implies you’ve inferred something or heard it in a less direct, perhaps more general way (e.g., “it seems like,” “apparently,” “it’s characteristic of”). It often carries a slight nuance of personal inference based on what you’ve picked up.
- QHow important is it to include the source with 〜によると (〜ni yoru to)?
- A
While you don’t always have to state the source with 〜によると (〜ni yoru to), it’s highly recommended, especially when the information is important, formal, or potentially surprising. Including the source adds credibility and clarity to your statement. In casual conversation, if the source is obvious or unimportant (e.g., common gossip), you can omit it. However, for news, official reports, or specific details, stating the source makes your sentence much more precise and polite.
- QCan I use 〜そうです with past tense verbs or adjectives?
- A
Yes, absolutely! You simply use the plain past tense of the verb or adjective before
そうです.- Noun (past):
彼は医者だったそうです。(Kare wa isha datta sō desu.) – “I heard he was a doctor.” - Verb (past):
彼は昨日、来たそうです。(Kare wa kinō, kita sō desu.) – “I heard he came yesterday.” - I-adjective (past):
そのテストは難しかったそうです。(Sono tesuto wa muzukashikatta sō desu.) – “I heard that test was difficult.” - Na-adjective (past):
彼女は学生だったそうです。(Kanojo wa gakusei datta sō desu.) – “I heard she was a student.”
- Noun (past):
Conclusion
Now you can:
✅ Use short form + そうです to report what you’ve heard
✅ Tell stories and share news like a native speaker
✅ Avoid confusion with the “looks like” そうです
🎯 Challenge: Ask a Japanese friend about recent news, and report it using 〜そうです!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
