Hearsay, 伝聞, is the topic of this lesson. This should be a lot easier than phrases for expressing similarity.
Directly following a verbal/adjectival expression with そうだ expresses hearsay. So, with a noun, follow it with だそうだ. Tense is shown before ～そうだ because this usage has no tense: it's only used with て or in the final position. Before we get to any example sentences, we will first look at the conjugation chart below.
| 動詞 | するそうだ | 形容詞 | 古いそうだ | 形容動詞 | 簡単だそうだ | 名詞 | 猫だそうだ |
1. 博士は入院したそうだ。
I hear that the professor was hospitalized.
Reading Note: The general reading of 博士 is はかせ, but はくし is respectful and is in words such as 博士号.
2. 先生は病気だそうです。
I hear that the teacher is sick.
Part of Speech Note: Remember that 病気 is not an adjective in Japanese!
3. 噂によれば、二人は離婚するそうです。
Rumor has it that the two are going to get a divorce.
4. 羅生門はいい映画だそうです。
They say that Rashomon is a good movie.
Culture Note: 羅生門 is a very popular crime scene movie in Japan from the 50s created by the renowned producer 黒澤明.
5. 地震があったそうだ。
They say there was an earthquake.
6. 天気予報では今日は雨が降らないそうです。
I hear it's not going to rain today with the weather report.
7. 日本語は上手じゃないそうです。
I hear that he's not good at Japanese.
8. 彼はよく勉強するそうです。
It sounds like he often studies.
9. 「あの人は子供の欲しいものは何でも買ってやるそうですよ」「よっぽど甘やかしているんでしょう」
"I hear that that person always buys whatever her kids want" "The kids must be pretty spoiled"
10. テレビ局が来月からタガログ語の番組を放送するそうです。
I hear that the TV network will air a Tagalog program starting next month.
The auxiliary ～らしい shows speculation based on some sort of foundation such as hearsay. However, it is somewhat of a euphemism for a more direct, declarative statement concerning hearsay, which would be expressed by ～そうだ.
Also, when there is a clearly defined reason or proof for something, you the speaker aren't just making conjecture. Rather, you're taking what you're hearing, seeing, or reading and making a non-intuitive statement.
| 形容詞 | 高い + らしい → 高いらしい | 形容動詞 | 危険な + らしい → 危険らしい | 名詞 | ガンらしい |
Example Sentences
11. 日本へ来なかったらしいです。
He apparently didn't go to Japan.
12. それが原因らしい。
That is apparently the cause.
14. その家に幽霊が出るらしい。
The house appears to be haunted.
15. 彼女はよく勉強するらしいです。
She appears to study often.
When the suffix ～らしい attaches to nouns, it makes adjectives to show typicality. It may also follow the stem of adjectives and some adverbs to show that something brings on a certain emotion. As you can see, you must understand that the auxiliary verb and suffix ～らしい's are different.
16. 彼は子供らしくない。
He doesn't act like a child.
17. もう少し大人らしくしてください。
Please a little more like an adult.
18. この傷は致命傷らしい。
The wound seem to be mortal.
19. あいつもう元気らしいじゃん？ (Casual)
Doesn't he seem already fine?
20. あんた、ホントに浅薄でいやらしい男だわ。(Rough female speech)
You, you're a really shallow and disgusting man!
21. わざとらしい微笑
An intentional/unnatural smile
22. そんな発言はいかにも彼らしい。
Speech like that is typical of him.
23. このごろあんたらしくねーよ。(乱暴な言い方)
You haven't been yourself lately.