Lesson21：そうです/ようです/みたいです-Unraveling Japanese Inference: 「そうです」, 「ようです」, and 「みたいです」

When you want to talk about something you’ve heard, seen, or inferred in Japanese, you’ll often encounter 「そうです」 (sō desu), 「ようです」 (yō desu), and 「みたいです」 (mitai desu). While they all relate to making educated guesses or reporting information, their usage depends heavily on the source of your information and your level of certainty. Let’s break down each one.

「そうです」 (Sō desu) – The Dual-Purpose Inference

The versatile 「そうです」 has two distinct uses, differentiated by how the verb or adjective connects to it.

Use A: Indicating Appearance or Seeming (Direct Observation)

This usage implies that something appears to be or looks like something, based on your direct sensory observations (what you see, hear, taste, or feel).

• Connection:
  • Verb: Stem form (remove -masu) + そうです
  • い-Adjective: Remove い + そうです (e.g., おいしい → おいしそうです)
  • な-Adjective: Remove だ + そうです (e.g., 元気だ → 元気そうです)
  • Note: Does NOT connect to nouns.
  • Exception: 良い (ii) becomes よさそうです (yosashō desu).
• Source of Information: Your own direct observation.
• Certainty Level: Relatively high, as it’s based on what you directly perceive.
• Examples:
  1. あのケーキはとてもおいしそうですね。
     • That cake looks very delicious. (Based on its appearance)
  2. 雨が降りそうです。
     • It looks like it’s going to rain. (Based on the sky/weather)
  3. 彼は元気そうですね。
     • He looks well/energetic. (Based on observing his demeanor)

Use B: Reporting Hearsay or News (Indirect Information)

This usage conveys information you’ve heard from someone else or from a source like the news. You are simply reporting what was said; it doesn’t imply your personal judgment or observation.

• Connection:
  • Verb: Plain form + そうです
  • い-Adjective: Plain form + そうです
  • な-Adjective: Plain form + そうです (e.g., 元気だ → 元気だそうです / ×元気そうです)
  • Noun: Plain form + そうです (e.g., 学生だ → 学生だそうです / ×学生そうです)
• Source of Information: Secondhand information (hearsay, news reports, rumors).
• Certainty Level: Depends on the reliability of the source, but it’s not your personal conviction.
• Examples:
  1. 田中さんは来月結婚するそうです。
     • I heard Mr. Tanaka is getting married next month. (Reporting information received)
  2. 明日は台風が来るそうです。
     • I heard a typhoon is coming tomorrow. (Reporting a weather forecast)
  3. あの店は、料理がとても美味しいそうですよ。
     • I heard the food at that restaurant is very delicious. (Reporting a reputation)

「ようです」 (Yō desu) – Inference Based on Indirect Evidence

「ようです」 expresses an inference or judgment based on indirect evidence, intuition, atmosphere, or general circumstances. You haven’t directly witnessed something, but the situation suggests it.

• Connection:
  • Verb: Plain form + ようです
  • い-Adjective: Plain form + ようです
  • な-Adjective: Plain form + ようです (e.g., 元気だ → 元気なようです)
  • Noun: の + ようです (e.g., 学生 → 学生のようです)
• Source of Information: Indirect observation, circumstantial evidence, atmosphere, experience.
• Certainty Level: Moderate, as it’s your own inference rather than direct observation.
• Examples:
  1. 隣の部屋から変な音がしますね。何かあったようです。
     • There’s a strange sound from the next room. It seems something happened. (Inferred from the sound)
  2. 彼は疲れているようです。
     • It seems he’s tired. (Inferred from his appearance/mannerisms)
  3. このあたりは、冬は雪がたくさん降るようです。
     • It seems to snow a lot in this area in winter. (Inferred from experience or general knowledge)

「みたいです」 (Mitai desu) – Casual Inference or Similarity

「みたいです」 is very similar to 「ようです」 in meaning, but it’s much more casual and conversational. It’s used for inferences based on indirect evidence, but it can also be used to express similarity (like “looks like” or “acts like”).

• Connection:
  • Verb: Plain form + みたいです
  • い-Adjective: Plain form + みたいです
  • な-Adjective: Stem form (no な) + みたいです (e.g., 元気だ → 元気みたいです)
  • Noun: Direct connection + みたいです (e.g., 学生 → 学生みたいです)
• Source of Information: Observation, atmosphere, intuition, or comparison.
• Certainty Level: Similar to 「ようです」, or sometimes slightly lower due to its casual nature.
• Examples:
  1. あの人は日本人みたいですね。
     • That person looks like a Japanese person. (Inferred from appearance/speech)
  2. 今日は道がとても混んでいるみたいです。
     • It seems the roads are very crowded today. (Inferred from traffic conditions)
  3. 彼は何か言いたいことでもあるみたいですよ。
     • It seems like he has something he wants to say. (Inferred from his behavior)

Key Distinctions at a Glance

Mastering these distinctions will significantly enhance your ability to express nuanced inferences and reports in Japanese. Pay close attention to the context and the origin of the information you’re conveying!