JLPT N3 grammar
～そうだ (two uses) — Meaning & Examples
PLAIN + そうだ = hearsay ("I hear ~"). STEM + そうだ = appearance ("looks ~"). おいしいそうだ vs おいしそうだ.
～によると … ～そうだ — "According to ~"
Pair a source with a hearsay ending to report cleanly.
Pattern: [source] によると、[plain form] そうだ
ニュースに よると、あした たいふうが くる そうだ。
— According to the news, a typhoon is coming tomorrow.
天気予報に よると、あさっては はれる そうです。
— According to the forecast, it'll be sunny the day after.
Also: ～によれば is a slightly more formal variant of ～によると.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on ～そうだ (two uses). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. ニュースによると、あめが ふる____。 (I hear it'll rain, per the news)
- ようだ (you da)
- みたい (mitai)
- そうだ (sou da)
- らしくない (rashikunai)
Show answer
Answer: そうだ (sou da)
～によると pairs with hearsay ～そうだ: "According to the news, (I hear) it'll rain."
2. 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".
3. ～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 ～そうだ (two uses) 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 ～そうだ (two uses) mean?
PLAIN + そうだ = hearsay ("I hear ~"). STEM + そうだ = appearance ("looks ~"). おいしいそうだ vs おいしそうだ.
Is ～そうだ (two uses) on the JLPT N3 test?
～そうだ (two uses) 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 ～そうだ (two uses)?
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.