そうだ vs らしい

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p1nk

後輩

18 Jul 2004

4

0

• 18 Jul 2004

• #1

Need some help

What is difference between the usage between そうだ vs らしい? thanks

 

Last edited: 18 Jul 2004

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PaulTB

Manga Psychic

22 Jan 2004

2,265

59

• 18 Jul 2004

• #2

p1nk said:

what is difference between the usage between the two? thanks ;p

Click to expand...

If you don't mind flash, this is a decent article to check out.

~rashii = 'it appears that'

雨が降るらしい。 (Ame ga furu rashii.)
It appears to be raining.

V sou da = 'I hear that'

雨が降るそうです。 (Ame ga furu sou desu.)
I heard it's going to rain.

V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like'

おいしそうなさしみです。 (Oishisou na sashimi desu.)
It's tasty looking sashimi.

 

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p1nk

後輩

18 Jul 2004

4

0

• 18 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #3

but the V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like' and ~rashii = 'it appears that' looks similar... how to differentiate when to use either of them? thanks

 

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PaulTB

Manga Psychic

22 Jan 2004

2,265

59

• 18 Jul 2004

• #4

p1nk said:

but the V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like' and ~rashii = 'it appears that' looks similar... how to differentiate when to use either of them? thanks

Click to expand...

I don't think there is much distinction between them. Except that I think the v-masu-stem sou da is generally based on a more immediate impression (e.g. actually seeing the meal for 美味しそうだ。 compared to らしい which might be based on a more indirect deduction.).

Don't quote me though.

 

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p1nk

後輩

18 Jul 2004

4

0

• 18 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #5

ok...thanks ..

 

Elizabeth

先輩

22 Apr 2003

9,839

135

• 19 Jul 2004

• #6

One important and rather idiomatic rashii-expression is in describing a perceived seasonal change.

今年の夏は去年に比べて、ずいぶん涼しい夏でしたが特に２週間位
前から秋らしい気候になりました。

But apparently, like you da=appears (while generally still more abstract than sou), it can represent the speaker's conjecture based on something read, seen, heard etc. :?
These are just sentences I've received, though, I can't vouch for their typicality.

この文章すばらしいですね。 That looks like a great sentence.

これが普通じゃないらしいと気づいたのは
かなり後になってからですが

(Although I've noticed that this doesn't seem to be as common after some time (of getting to know someone)).