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✏️The difference between [~そうです] , [~らしいです], and [~ようです(みたいです)]✏️

You may learn in your lesson “~そうです” used when you report something you have heard.

⇨🗣️きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないそうです。

(I heard that there is no lesson today.)


However, you may notice that Japanese people use “~らしいです” when they tell something that they’ve heard.

⇨🗣️きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないらしいです。

(I heard that there is no lesson today.)


You may also hear “~ようです(みたいです)” in a similar situation.

⇨🤔きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないようです(みたいです)。

(It seems like there is no lesson today.)


What is the difference “~そうです”, “~らしいです”, and “~ようです(みたいです)” between and when Japanese people use these expressions?

一緒(いっしょ)に チェックしましょう:)

Let’s find out together in this post:)

🌟「~そうです」

“~そうです” is used to report something one has read or heard.

There are 2 points when you use this expression.

①When you are certain the information is true. (conviction: 100%)

②When you've heard the information from the person concerned directly.

(The Source is clear and credible.)

📞先生(せんせい)に電話(でんわ)したんですが、きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないそうです。

(I ask my teacher on the phone and she said that there is no lesson today.)

📝調査(ちょうさ)によると、毎日(まいにち)小(ちい)さい地震(じしん)が起(お)きているそうです。

(According to research, small earthquakes occur everyday.)

“~そうです” is used when you really want to tell that to others or you believe the information is valuable.🤩✨

🌟「~らしいです」

“~らしいです” is also used to report something one has read or heard.

However, we use “~らしいです” in the situations below.

①When you don’t certain the information is true. (conviction: 60~80%)

②When you heard the information from someone indirectly, NOT the person concerned.

(The Source DON’T have to be clear and credible, like a rumour.)

🗣️さっき友達(ともだち)に聞(き)いたんですが、きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないらしいです。

 (I heard from my friend and she said that It seems like there is no lesson today.)

👫うわさによると、トムさんとたけ先生(せんせい)は付(つ)き合(あ)ってるらしいよ。

  (I heard rumors that Tom and Take sensei are dating.)

“~らしいです” sometimes sounds like “I have no interest in it.”

A: 🤩新(あたら)しいアニメ、もう見ましたか?とてもおもしろいそうですよ!

(Have you already watched new anime? I heard that it is so interesting!)

B: あ~、らしいですね。😦

 (Oh, yeah. I also heard that.)

“~らしいです” is also used to state a person’s judgment or guess objectively.

💔山田(やまだ)さんはたけ先生(せんせい)のことをあきらめたらしい。

 (Apparently, Yamada give up on Take sensei.)

The judgment is mainly based on what he/she has heard.


🌟「~ようです(みたいです)」

“~ようです” is used to indicate conjecture based on information the speaker has obtained through the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, or smelling.

“みたいです” is the casual form of “~ようです”.

🤔きょうの授業(じゅぎょう)はないようです(みたいです)。

(It seems like there is no lesson today.)

⇨There are fewer students in the classroom than usual, and the teacher hasn’t come yet even though it is time to start.

😞たけ先生(せんせい)は疲(つか)れているようです。

  (Take sensei seems to be tired.)

⇨You heard that Take sensei has been busy recently and now she’s sleeping on the desk.


“~ようです(みたいです)” is used to state a person’s judgment or guess subjectively.

どうでしたか。(how’s my explanation?)

I hope you enjoy learning and talking Japanese! 👍✨


Takemoto

Tomo Japanese Language School

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