You use this when you hear something from someone else. It means 'it seems' or 'I hear that'.
Noun + らしいPrimary
Verb [dictionary form] + らしい
い-Adjective + らしい
な-Adjective + らしい
You use this when you hear something from someone else. It means 'it seems' or 'I hear that'.
田中さんは来月結婚するらしい。
I hear that Tanaka-san is getting married next month.
昨日のパーティーはとても楽しかったらしいね。
I hear yesterday's party was a lot of fun.
今年の冬はあまり寒くないらしい。
It seems this winter won't be very cold.
今日は春らしい陽気で、散歩にぴったりです。
Today has spring-like weather, which is perfect for a walk.
彼こそリーダーらしいリーダーだ。
He is a true leader, the very model of what a leader should be.
This word has two main uses. It can mean 'I heard that...' or 'It seems like...'. It can also mean 'typical of' something. For example, 'child-like' means 'typical of a child'. The words around it will tell you which meaning to use.
This is different from 〜そうだ (hearsay). That reports what someone else said. It is also different from 〜ようだ. That is your own guess. It is also different from 〜そうだ (appearance). That is for things you see. And it is different from 〜っぽい. That is a more casual way to say something looks like something else.
Watch out: Don't use 〜らしい if you see something yourself. If you see dark clouds, say "It looks like rain." Don't say "I hear it will rain." 〜らしい means you heard it from someone else.
Don't use this when you know something for sure. For example, if you saw it happen yourself.
Often confused with(2)
Less formal alternatives(1)
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