Structure
Verb［ます］+ そうに + Verb(1)
［い］Adjective［い］+ そうに + Verb(1)
［な］Adjective + そうに + Verb(1)
Verb［ます］(2) + そうな + Noun
(1) Adverb、［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective
(2) ［い］Adjective［い］、［な］Adjective
Details
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Standard
About そうに・そうな
そうだ is one of the 18 auxiliary verbs in Japanese, and can be used in the same way as な-Adjectives (may be followed by な when acting as an adjective, or に when acting as an adverb). This is a unique characteristic of そうだ and ようだ. It is not something that can be done with all auxiliary verbs. As with そうだ, そうに and そうな carry the meaning of 'seeming like (A)', or 'looking like (A)'.
Caution
そう may also be used when attached to the い-Adjective, ない. In this case, there is a unique conjugation rule which you will need to be careful of. As always, い will be removed from ない before attaching そう. However, さ will need to be inserted between な, and そう. This results in the construction なさそう.
- すごい！辛くなさそうに食べるね。Wow! You eat it like it's not spicy.
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大事じゃなさそうな物は捨ててもいいよ。You can throw away anything that does not look important.
Note that this addition of さ does not happen with verbs. This is due to the ない that is used with negative verbs being an auxiliary verb, and not an い-Adjective. With the auxiliary verb ない, simply remove the い, before adding そう directly to the stem.
- あの人は怒らなそうな顔をしているけどいつも怒っている。He does not look like he gets angry a lot, but actually he is always angry.
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彼は美味しくなさそうにご飯を食べている。He is eating his food like it does not taste good.
Synonyms
げ
Seemingly, Giving appearance of, [Expresses emotions or feelings]
Not studied yet
ように・ような
As・like, Just like
Not studied yet
ようだ
It seems that, It appears that, It looks like
Not studied yet
みたいに・みたいな
Like, Similar to, Resembling
Not studied yet
みたい
Like, Similar to, Resembling
Not studied yet
にみえる
To look, To seem, To appear
Not studied yet
のように・のような
Like (Noun), Similar to (Noun)
Not studied yet
Examples
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これが入りそうな箱ってある？
Is there a box that looks like it might fit this?
今日は雨が降りそうな日ですね。
It looks like today is going to be a rainy day doesn't it.
優しそうに犬を撫でた。
She pet the dog in a way that seemed affectionate.
彼は分かりやすそうな説明をしたが、まだ理解ができない。
He gave an explanation that seemed easy to understand, but I still don't get it.
つまらなそうな話は聞きたくない。
I don't want to hear a story that sounds boring.
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Japanese Test 4 You
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Marugoto Elementary 2 (A2) Rikai
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Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
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そうに・そうな – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (30 in total)
FredKore
Verb[stem] + そうな + Noun
降り出す ⇒ 振り出します
Verb[stem] = 振り出し
⇒「降り出しそうな」 (ta-da! )
Exosum
By the way this sentence is still present with confusing N3 grammar point.
これが入りそうな箱ってある
busnea
Why can’t you use そうに for nouns? Like noun + そうに + Verb . Because you can use it for ［な］Adjectives and Noun + の + よう + だ is possible.
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