Meaning & usage
らしい expresses hearsay or inference, meaning it seems or apparently, when the speaker reports information learned from others or judges from indirect evidence. It follows the plain form of verbs and i-adjectives, as in できているらしい or おいしいらしい, and follows nouns and na-adjective stems directly in the present, as in 病気らしい or 知り合いらしい. For past meaning, use forms like できたらしい or だったらしい. It sounds slightly formal and keeps distance, so avoid it for stating your own direct experience or certain facts.
Example sentences 4
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その犬は病気だったらしい。
The dog seems to have been sick.
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おい、今度の新人かわいいらしいぜ。
Hey, the new recruit this time seems really cute.
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その犬は病気らしい。
The dog seems to be sick.
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少年と少女は知り合いらしい。
The boy and the girl seem to know each other.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 12 past exam questions.
And 8 more tests.
