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N4

Hearsay そうだ

About 9 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core idea

Hearsay そうだ is used when the speaker is reporting information from another source. It does not mean the speaker personally observed the fact.

  1. Target signal

    天気予報では、明日は雪になるそうです。

    The forecast says it will snow tomorrow.

    では introduces the source of the hearsay.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    になる〜になる
    to become
    うで
    arm

  2. Compare in context

    山田さんは来月結婚するそうです。

    I hear that Yamada is getting married next month.

    The speaker is passing on information, not observing it directly.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    山田さんやまださん
    Mr. or Ms. Yamada
    うで
    arm

Section 2 of 3

Formation and patterns

Attach そうだ to plain forms. After nouns and な-adjectives, plain style includes だ: 元気だそうです, 休みだそうです. Sources are often marked with によると or では.

  1. Target signal

    この店のラーメンはおいしいそうです。

    I hear this shop's ramen is good.

    With hearsay そうです after an い-adjective, keep the final い: おいしいそうです.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    おいしい
    delicious
    ラーメン
    ramen

  2. Preview

    その映画はあまり長くないそうです。

    I hear that movie is not very long.

    Negative plain forms also attach directly before そうです.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    あまり
    not very; not much
    いそう
    looks like there is; seems likely

Section 3 of 3

Hearsay vs appearance

Do not confuse hearsay そうだ with appearance そうだ. Hearsay reports information from a source. Appearance そうだ is based on what something seems like.

  1. Target signal

    雨が降るそうです。

    I hear that it will rain.

    This is hearsay from information or a report.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    うで
    arm
    そう
    so; that way; like that

  2. Preview

    雨が降りそうです。

    It looks like it is about to rain.

    This is appearance based on what the speaker sees.

    Vocabulary notes
    そうです〜そうです
    looks like; seems
    うで
    arm
    そう
    so; that way; like that

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Hearsay そうだ changes the meaning before you check the translation.

天気予報では、明日は雪になるそうです。 山田さんは来月結婚するそうです。 この店のラーメンはおいしいそうです。 その映画はあまり長くないそうです。 雨が降るそうです。 雨が降りそうです。

Show English translation

The forecast says it will snow tomorrow. I hear that Yamada is getting married next month. I hear this shop's ramen is good. I hear that movie is not very long. I hear that it will rain. It looks like it is about to rain.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Hearsay そうだ changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Hearsay そうだ changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Hearsay そうだ in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 5Choose the best context

What does hearsay そうだ mean?

Activity 2 of 5Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Hearsay そうだ).

天気予報では、明日は雪になる＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 5Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1山田さんは来月結婚するそうです。
  2. 2この店のラーメンはおいしいそうです。
  3. 3天気予報では、明日は雪になるそうです。
Activity 4 of 5Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Hearsay そうだ in the mini-reading?

Activity 5 of 5Infer from the passage

Cumulative checkpoint: Which reading habit helps you combine this lesson with the earlier grammar?

Mastery check 1/3

What does hearsay そうだ mean?