〜そうです (hearsay): You use this when you tell someone what you heard from another person. It means 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'.

〜そうです (hearsay)

You use this when you tell someone what you heard from another person. It means 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'.

N4 KMT4PoliteStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedCiting Source Of InformationGrammar

Clause [plain form] + そうですPrimary

Clause [plain form] + そうだ

You use this when you tell someone what you heard from another person. It means 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'.

天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るそうです。

According to the weather forecast, I hear it's going to rain tomorrow.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayWeather & Geography

あの新しいレストランは、あまり美味しくないそうです。

I hear that new restaurant isn't very good.

PoliteNon PastNegativeSentence EndingHearsayFood & Dining

田中さんは去年、会社を辞めたそうです。

I hear that Mr. Tanaka quit his company last year.

PolitePastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayWork & Career

彼の兄さんは医者だそうだ。

I hear his older brother is a doctor.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

この辺りは昔、とても静かだったそうですが、今はすっかり変わってしまいましたね。

I hear this area used to be very quiet, but it's completely changed now, hasn't it?

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceHearsayHome & Housing History

This grammar is like a messenger. You are just passing along what you heard. You are not saying if it is true or not.

This is different from "looks like" そうです. That one describes what you see. This one tells what you heard. "Looks like" uses a different verb form. This hearsay そうです is more casual than saying "according to..." It is more polite than just saying "って".

Watch out: Use the plain form of a verb before そうです when you tell what you heard. For example, use "went" (行った) not "going to go" (行きそう) when you mean "I heard she went."

Often confused with(1)

〜そうです (様態)

This grammar shows what something looks like. You use it when you see something and make a guess about it.

Contrasts with(2)

〜って (hearsay)

This means you are telling someone what you heard. It is like saying 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...' in a relaxed way.

〜そうです (様態)

This grammar shows what something looks like. You use it when you see something and make a guess about it.

Less formal alternatives(3)

〜では (source)

This means 'according to' something. It shows where information comes from. It can also mean 'in' a certain situation.

〜によると

This means 'according to' or 'based on'. You use it to say where you got your information.

〜とのことです

You use this to say what you heard from someone else. It means 'I heard that...' or 'they say that...'.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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Dictionary

〜そうです (hearsay)

You use this when you tell someone what you heard from another person. It means 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'.

N4 KMT4PoliteStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedCiting Source Of InformationGrammar

Clause [plain form] + そうですPrimary

Clause [plain form] + そうだ

You use this when you tell someone what you heard from another person. It means 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...'.

天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るそうです。

According to the weather forecast, I hear it's going to rain tomorrow.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayWeather & Geography

あの新しいレストランは、あまり美味しくないそうです。

I hear that new restaurant isn't very good.

PoliteNon PastNegativeSentence EndingHearsayFood & Dining

田中さんは去年、会社を辞めたそうです。

I hear that Mr. Tanaka quit his company last year.

PolitePastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayWork & Career

彼の兄さんは医者だそうだ。

I hear his older brother is a doctor.

CasualNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingHearsayFamily & Relationships Medicine & Health

この辺りは昔、とても静かだったそうですが、今はすっかり変わってしまいましたね。

I hear this area used to be very quiet, but it's completely changed now, hasn't it?

NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceHearsayHome & Housing History

This grammar is like a messenger. You are just passing along what you heard. You are not saying if it is true or not.

Watch out: Use the plain form of a verb before そうです when you tell what you heard. For example, use "went" (行った) not "going to go" (行きそう) when you mean "I heard she went."

Often confused with(1)

〜そうです (様態)

This grammar shows what something looks like. You use it when you see something and make a guess about it.

Contrasts with(2)

〜って (hearsay)

This means you are telling someone what you heard. It is like saying 'I heard that...' or 'They say that...' in a relaxed way.

〜そうです (様態)

This grammar shows what something looks like. You use it when you see something and make a guess about it.

Less formal alternatives(3)

〜では (source)

This means 'according to' something. It shows where information comes from. It can also mean 'in' a certain situation.

〜によると

This means 'according to' or 'based on'. You use it to say where you got your information.

〜とのことです

You use this to say what you heard from someone else. It means 'I heard that...' or 'they say that...'.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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〜そうです (hearsay)

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(3)

Prerequisites3

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〜そうです (hearsay)

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Common Mistakes1

Compare with6

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(2)

Less formal alternatives(3)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery