JLPT N4 grammar
そうです (hearsay) — Meaning & Examples
"I heard that ~". Keeps the full word: おいしいそうです (oishii sou desu). Compare with appearance そうです which DROPS the final い: おいしそうです (oishisou desu).
そうです — "I Heard That"
そうです reports something you heard from elsewhere.
Pattern: [plain form] + そうです
タナカさんは結婚するそうです。(Tanaka-san wa kekkon suru sou desu.)
= I heard Tanaka is getting married.
あそこのラーメンはおいしいそうです。(asoko no rāmen wa oishii sou desu.)
= I heard the ramen there is delicious.
明日は雨が降るそうです。(ashita wa ame ga furu sou desu.)
= I heard it will rain tomorrow.
CAREFUL — two different そうです:
1. Hearsay (として): plain form + そうです
あのラーメンはおいしいそうです。(ano rāmen wa oishii sou desu.) (I heard it's delicious)
2. Appearance (looks like): い-adjective stem + そうです
あのラーメンはおいしそうです。(ano rāmen wa oishisou desu.) (looks delicious — drop the い!)
The difference: hearsay keeps the full word, appearance drops the final い.
Other reporting:
らしい = apparently (less certain than そうです)
みたい = seems / looks like
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on そうです (hearsay). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. あのラーメンはおいしいそうです (ano rāmen wa oishii sou desu) means?
- I heard that ramen is delicious
- That ramen looks delicious
- That ramen will be delicious
- I want delicious ramen
Show answer
Answer: I heard that ramen is delicious
HEARSAY そうです keeps the full word. おいしいそうです (with い) = I heard it's delicious.
2. あのラーメンはおいしそうです (ano rāmen wa oishisou desu) means?
- That ramen will be delicious
- I heard that ramen is delicious
- That ramen looks delicious
- I want delicious ramen
Show answer
Answer: That ramen looks delicious
APPEARANCE そうです DROPS the い! おいしそう = looks delicious. The い makes all the difference.
Practise そうです (hearsay) in the free app
This point is part of the “Reporting What People Say and Think” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Reporting What People Say and Think
Frequently asked questions
What does そうです (hearsay) mean?
"I heard that ~". Keeps the full word: おいしいそうです (oishii sou desu). Compare with appearance そうです which DROPS the final い: おいしそうです (oishisou desu).
Is そうです (hearsay) on the JLPT N4 test?
そうです (hearsay) is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Reporting What People Say and Think”), 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 そうです (hearsay)?
Open the “Reporting What People Say and Think” 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 N4 mock exams, with no ads.