そうです (sou desu) and そうだ (sou da) – “It seems like”

Meaning

そうです (sou desu) and そうだ (sou da) can be attached to verbs and adjectives to express that something “seems like” or “looks like”.

Forms

 
Polite Form
Example
あの映画えいがこわそうです。
Ano eiga wa kowasou desu.
That movie seems scary.
Verb Stem + そうです
いadjective – い + そうです
なadjective – な + そうです
     
Casual Form
Verb Stem + そうだ
いadjective – い + そうだ
なadjective + そうだ
       

 

Verb usage

あのあかちゃんはそうです
Ano akachan wa naki-sou desu.
(That baby looks like it is going to cry.)
Ano akachan wa naki-sou desu.

 

いadjective usage

このケーキはおいしそうです
Kono keeki wa oishi-sou desu.
This cake looks delicious.
Kono keeki wa oishi-sou desu.

 

なadjective usage

そのまちなごやかそうです
Sono machi wa nagoyaka-sou desu.
That town seems peaceful.
Sono machi wa nagoyaka-sou desu.

 

 

More Examples of そうです (sou desu) and そうだ (sou da)

 
メアリーはしあわそうです
Mary wa shiawase-sou desu.
Mary looks happy.
Mary wa shiawase-sou desu.
それは おもそうです
Sore wa omo-sou desu.
That looks heavy.
Sore wa omo-sou desu.
まささんは 親切しんせつ そうです
Masa san wa shinsetsu-sou desu.
Masa looks kind.
Masa san wa shinsetsu-sou desu.
プールはつめそうです
Pūru wa tsumeta-sou desu.
The pool looks cold.
Pūru wa tsumeta-sou desu.
そとあつそうです
Soto wa atsu-sou desu.
It looks hot outside.
Soto wa atsu-sou desu.
ポケットから財布さいふおちそうです
Poketto kara saifu ga ochi-sou desu.
The wallet looks like it will fall from the pocket.
Poketto kara saifu ga ochi-sou desu.
このゆかすべそうだ
Kono yuka suberi-sou da.
This floor seems slippery.
Kono yuka suberi-sou da.
その問題もんだいむずかそうだ
Sono mondai wa muzukashi-sou da.
That question seems difficult.
Sono mondai wa muzukashi-sou da.
 

 

When: TOKI Japanese Grammar Index Try to: TE MIMASU