Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 3: 10/18

様(よう)だ
it seems that, it appears that, it looks like

More formal than みたい

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb + よう +
[い]Adjective + よう +
[な]Adjective + + よう +
Noun + + よう +
Verb + よう + です
[い]Adjective + よう + です
[な]Adjective + + よう + です
Noun + + よう + です
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
In a similar way to みたい, ようだ is used when making observations about something in Japanese. This 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verb) is used to express three primary things.
たとえ - Using (A) as an example to highlight the way that (B) looks/is acting.
推定(すいてい) - Using (A) as a reason for an assumption made about (B).
例示(れいじ) - Presenting (A) as an example of what (B) is.
ようだ is usually based on direct information/experience, and shows that the speaker has high confidence in what they are saying. It may also frequently appear in its kanji form, 様(よう)だ.
ようだ can be used with any verb, い-Adjective, な-Adjective, or noun. However, it requires な before it when used with な-Adjectives, or when used with nouns.
  • ここ大(おお)きビル出来(でき)ようだ
    It seems like a big building will be made here.
  • あそこプール深(ふか)様(よう)だ
    It seems like the pool over there is deep.
  • 彼(かれ)明日(あした)テスト自信(じしん)がある皆(みんな)言(い)っている、本当(ほんとう)不安(ふあん)ようだ
    He is telling everyone that he is confident about the test tomorrow, but it seems like he is actually worried.
  • ヨーダ宇宙人(うちゅうじん)ようだ
    Yoda appears to be an alien.
Although ようだ and そうだ are often used in similar situations, そうだ shows that the speaker has a lot less confidence in their statement than ようだ. Because of this, ようだ is a much better choice when stating things that are obvious/observable by anyone.
Caution
ようだ is considerably more formal than みたい, and is therefore less common in casual conversation.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
彼(かれ)ここ来(こ)ないようだ
It seems like he won't come here.
Play  
今日(きょう)天気(てんき)台風(たいふう)ようだ
Today's weather looks like a typhoon.
Play  
彼(かれ)話(はな)し方(かた)歌(うた)っているようだ
His way of speaking seems like singing.
Play  
Books
みんなの日本語 II
Page 138 [CH 47]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 1 & 547
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 258
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 72