【JLPT N4 Grammar】〜ようだ（~youda）

2019年7月25日 2024年10月25日

Contents

1 Explanation：〜ようだ
2 Sample sentenes
3 Vocabulary
4 Comparison
- 4.1 1. "〜ようだ" vs. "〜そうだ"
- 4.2 2. "〜ようだ" vs. "〜らしい"

Explanation：〜ようだ

Meaning
"it looks like / it seems"

Used to make inferences, guesses, or to express something that appears to be a certain way based on available information or indirect evidence. It is often translated as "it seems" or "it appears" in English.

Form
V（plain form）+ ようだ
イA（plain form）+ ようだ
ナA（plain form）+ ようだ
N（plain form）+ ようだ

verb		イA
かえるかえらないかえったかえらなかった	ようだ	あついあつくないあつかったあつくなかった	ようだ
ナA		N
げんきなげんきじゃないげんきだったげんきじゃなかった	ようだ	びょうきのびょうきじゃないびょうきだったびょうきじゃなかった	ようだ

Points

Expresses Inference: "〜ようだ" is used when you are not certain about something but have gathered enough clues to make a reasonable assumption.
Based on Observation or Indirect Evidence: It is typically used when you infer something from what you see, hear, or know, rather than directly experiencing it.
Polite and Neutral: It is a relatively polite and neutral expression, commonly used in both written and spoken Japanese.

JLPT Level
N4

Sample sentenes

たくさんの人が　集あつまっている。大きな　事故じこが　あったようだ。
A lot of people are gathered. It seems like there was a big accident.

部長ぶちょうが　どこにも　いない。もう　うちへ　帰かえったようだ。
I can't find my manager anywhere. It seems like he has already gone home."

外そとで　たくさんの　人ひとが　傘かさを　さしている。　雨あめが　降ふっている　ようですね。
Many people outside are holding umbrellas. It seems like it's raining.

どこかで　カレーを　作つくっているようだ。　いい匂においが　する。
It smells like someone is making curry somewhere. It smells good.

隣となりの　部屋へやから　楽たのしそうな　声こえが　聞きこえる。　パーティーでも　しているようだ。
Sounds of laughter are coming from the next room. It sounds like they're having a party.

Vocabulary

Japanese	English
あつまる	to gather
じこ	accident
ぶちょう	general manager
そと	outside
となり	next to
こえ	voice

Comparison

1. "〜ようだ" vs. "〜そうだ"

"〜ようだ" is used for inference based on indirect clues or evidence.

"〜そうだ" is used for visual or immediate impressions, often based on appearance.

Example

あめが　ふるようだ。— Based on something you've heard or seen (e.g., a weather report or dark clouds).
(It seems like it will rain.)

あめが　ふりそうだ。— Based on direct observation (e.g., the sky is dark).
(It looks like it’s going to rain.)

2. "〜ようだ" vs. "〜らしい"

"〜ようだ" is based on personal observations or clues.

"〜らしい" is based on hearsay or common belief.

Example

かれは　もう　かえったようだ。— Based on what you see (e.g., his desk is empty).
(It seems he has gone home.)

かれは　もう　かえったらしい。— Based on what someone else told you.
(I heard he has gone home.)