〜ようだ
seems / looks like
〜ようだ expresses seems / looks like — communicating the speaker's degree of certainty, judgment, or attitude about a statement. Modal expressions in Japanese range from strong conviction to vague possibility, and choosing the right one conveys important nuance about how sure you are.
This is an intermediate pattern used regularly in everyday Japanese conversation and writing.
Structure
[Clause plain] + ようだ
[Noun] の + ようだ
Formation#
| Type | Plain Form | 〜ようだ Form |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | 降る | 降るようだ |
| い-adjective | 高い | 高いようだ |
| な-adjective | 静かな | 静かなようだ |
| Noun | 本当の | 本当のようだ |
Attach ようだ to the plain form (な/の for な-adjectives and nouns).
When to Use#
- When making an observation based on evidence or reasoning
- When expressing a judgment more formally than 〜みたいだ
When NOT to Use#
- When the meaning is closer to "looks like / seems" — use 〜そうだ instead
- In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected
Example Sentences#
- みんな忙しいようです。 — It seems everyone is busy.
- 今夜は大雪が降るようです。 — It seems heavy snow will fall tonight.
- 明日は会社が休みのようです。 — It seems the office will be closed tomorrow.
Practice#
Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:
It seems everyone is busy.
みんな忙しいようです。
みんな忙しいみたい。
It seems heavy snow will fall tonight.
今夜は大雪が降るようです。
今夜は大雪が降るようだ。
Common Mistakes#
- Confusing 〜ようだ with 〜そうだ — While both are related, 〜ようだ expresses "seems / looks like" whereas 〜そうだ expresses "looks like / seems." Pay attention to the specific nuance each pattern conveys.
- Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜ようだ may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.
Compare
| 〜ようだseems / looks like | 〜そうだlooks like / seems | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Inference from broad evidence | Direct visual impression |
| Timing | Judgment after observation | About to happen / appearance |
| Example | 雨が降ったようだ | 雨が降りそうだ |
Compare
| 〜ようだseems / looks like | 〜らしいapparently / seems | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Speaker observed or reasoned | External info or hearsay |
| Subjectivity | Own judgment | Based on what is heard/reported |
| Example | 彼は疲れているようだ | 彼は疲れているらしい |
Compare
| 〜ようだseems / looks like | 〜みたいだlooks like / seems like | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Formal / written | Casual / spoken |
| Grammar | Noun の + ようだ | Noun + みたいだ |
| Example | 夢のようだ | 夢みたいだ |
Related Patterns#
- 〜ごとき (like / such as (dismissive)) — Next step
- 〜みたいだ (looks like / seems like) — Compare
- 〜らしい (apparently / seems) — Compare
- 〜そうだ (looks like / seems) — Compare
Related Patterns
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