～そう | Grammar

Structure

Adj-i[stem] + そう

(Remove the final い from the i-adjective)
おいしい → おいしそう (seems delicious)

Adj-na + そう

げんき元気 → 元気そう (looks energetic)

V[stem] + そう

ふる降る → 降り → 降りそう (looks like it's going to rain)

Exceptions:

ない → なさ → なさそう
いい → よさ → よさそう

Negative:

Adj-i

うれしい嬉しい → 嬉しくない → 嬉しくなさそう (doesn’t seem happy)

Adj-na

げんき元気 → 元気ではない → 元気ではなさそう (doesn’t seem energetic)

V[stem] + そう + に/も + ない

ふる降る → 降り → 降りそう → 降りそうにない or 降りそうもない (it doesn't look like it's going to rain)

Description

～そう is used to express that something looks like or seems like a certain way based on its appearance. It is a subjective judgment based on what the speaker sees or feels.

It expresses conjectures about the present state or a future event. However, it cannot be used to express a conjecture about the past.

Grammatically, そう is a na-adjective:

A delicious-looking cake

Examples

。

This soup looks hot.

。

She looks tired.

。

This book looks interesting.

。

He looks energetic.

。

That mountain looks tall.

。

It looks like it’s going to rain.

。

He almost started crying.

じゅうそう重そう。

This bag looks heavy.

。

She has a happy-looking face.

。

That house looks old.

。

It doesn’t look like it’s going to snow.

。

He doesn’t look like he wants to go.

。

This soup looks hot.

。

She looks tired.

。

It doesn’t look like it’s going to snow.