ようだ

The expression ようだ is used to convey that something appears or seems a certain way based on the speaker's observation or judgment, or to draw a comparison (simile). It connects to verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

Connection patterns

• Verb (plain form)
  • ようだ: あめがふる雨が降る
    • ようだ - い-adjective
      • ようだ: さむい寒い
        • ようだ - な-adjective + な
          • ようだ: しずか静かな
            • ようだ - Noun + の
              • ようだ: ゆめ夢の
                • ようだ

Conjecture based on evidence

ようだ expresses the speaker's judgment or inference based on what they have observed, heard, felt, or otherwise perceived. It implies that the speaker has some basis for their conclusion, but is not entirely certain.

This is different from ～そうだ (appearance), which is based on immediate visual impression of something about to happen (e.g., 雨が降りそうだ "it looks like it's about to rain"), whereas ようだ is based on broader evidence or reasoning (e.g., 雨が降ったようだ "it seems like it rained" – perhaps you see wet streets).

Simile / Comparison

ようだ is also used to compare one thing to another, expressing that something is like or as if something else. This is how metaphors and similes are formed in Japanese.

Modifying forms: ような and ように

When modifying a noun, ようだ becomes ような:

When modifying a verb or adjective, or expressing a purpose/manner, it becomes ように:

Polite form

The polite form is ようです.