Meaning & usage
ようだ expresses conjecture based on observation, meaning it appears that, and comparison meaning like or as. It follows plain form verbs and i-adjectives, as in ないようだ or 高いようだ, while nouns take のようだ and na-adjectives take なようだ. Before a noun it becomes ような, and as an adverbial it becomes ように, with past tense ようだった and negative ようではない. It is neutral in style for speech and writing, and comparison use often pairs with particles like の or と.
Example sentences 6
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彼は先生に向いてないように見える。
He seems not to be cut out for teaching.
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日本のような国でさえ殺人事件は増えている。
The number of murders is increasing even in a country like Japan.
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彼にはお金が足りないようだった。
It seemed that he was short of money.
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彼の目は牛の目のように優しい。
His eyes are as gentle as those of a cow.
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彼は、日本では手に入らないような洋書を持っています。
He has such foreign books as you can't obtain in Japan.
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私はいつものように早く起きた。
I got up early as usual.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 4 past exam questions.
