How to tell them apart
The same form そうだ splits on the source of the information. For hearsay, the speaker relays something they were told, so it attaches to plain forms of verbs and adjectives: 英語の先生だそうだ. For the looks-like use, the speaker judges from direct visual or sensory evidence, and it attaches to the stem of an adjective or verb: 美味しそうだ. Swapping them is wrong because you cannot report a rumor with the conjecture pattern, and you cannot express a visual guess with the hearsay pattern.
- そうだ Use そうだ when you are passing on information you heard from someone else.
- そうだ Use そうだ when you are making a guess from what you see or feel.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| そうだ souda | reportedly; from what I hear | N4 |
| そうだ souda | Appears to be; seems that way (used in replies) | N4 |
そうだ souda
reportedly; from what I hear
そうだ works as a responsive expression in conversation, standing alone to agree with or confirm what the other person said, as in そうだね or そうだよ. It can also follow a plain-form clause to convey an impression, as in 分かってそうだ, where it suggests something appears likely based on what one perceives. The tone is casual, so it fits relaxed spoken Japanese rather than formal writing.
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これならいいはず。たぶん。おそらく。そうだといいな。
This should be okay. Probably. Possibly. At least I hope so.
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メアリーがそれをやったって、トムは分かってそうだよ。
It seems Tom knows that Mary did that.
そうだ souda
Appears to be; seems that way (used in replies)
そうだ works two ways in these examples: after a verb's te-form or plain form it means something seems likely, as in 分かってそうだ (he seems to understand). It also stands alone as a conversational reply, そうだね or そうだよ, agreeing with or confirming what was just said. The standalone use is casual spoken Japanese.
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これならいいはず。たぶん。おそらく。そうだといいな。
This should be okay. Probably. Possibly. At least I hope so.
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メアリーがそれをやったって、トムは分かってそうだよ。
It seems Tom knows that Mary did that.
そうだ and そうだ are both JLPT N4 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.