JLPT N3 grammar
～らしい — Meaning & Examples
"Apparently / seems" — looser hearsay than そうだ. Also means "typical of": はるらしい = spring-like.
～らしい — "Apparently / Seems"
～らしい reports information you've gathered, with a touch of distance — "apparently", "from what I gather".
Pattern: plain form + らしい (drop だ for nouns/な-adj: あめ らしい)
かれは こない らしい。 — Apparently he's not coming.
あの みせは やすい らしい。 — That shop is supposedly cheap.
らしい vs そうだ (hearsay):
そうだ = a more direct relay of what you heard
らしい = a looser "it seems / apparently", source vaguer
Bonus: ～らしい also means "typical of" — おとこらしい = manly, はるらしい = spring-like. Context tells them apart.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on ～らしい. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. Which means "it LOOKS delicious" (appearance)?
- おいしいそうだ (oishii sou da)
- おいしいとのことだ (oishii to no koto da)
- おいしいらしい (oishii rashii)
- おいしそうだ (oishi sou da)
Show answer
Answer: おいしそうだ (oishi sou da)
STEM + そうだ = appearance: おいしそうだ. PLAIN + そうだ (おいしいそうだ) = "I heard it's delicious".
2. ～らしい is best described as:
- A direct command
- Past tense
- A polite request
- "Apparently / seems" (gathered info)
Show answer
Answer: "Apparently / seems" (gathered info)
～らしい = "apparently/seems", looser than そうだ. Also "typical of": はるらしい = spring-like.
Practise ～らしい in the free app
This point is part of the “Reporting and Hearsay Patterns” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: Reporting and Hearsay Patterns
Frequently asked questions
What does ～らしい mean?
"Apparently / seems" — looser hearsay than そうだ. Also means "typical of": はるらしい = spring-like.
Is ～らしい on the JLPT N3 test?
～らしい is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Reporting and Hearsay Patterns”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ～らしい?
Open the “Reporting and Hearsay Patterns” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.