The ren'youkei + そう(な) (sou na), often followed by a form of
"de aru" (da / desu) is one of several ways of describing
an impression you have. It can be translated as "it looks like".
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雨が降りそうだ。(Ame ga furisou
da.)
It looks like it's going to rain. |
| |
| |
雨が降りそうな気がします。(Ame ga furisou na
ki ga shimasu.)
I have the feeling it will rain. |
| |
Verbal adjectives
When combining そう(な) (sou na) with a verbal adjective the く (ku)
is dropped:
濃く (koku = ren'youkei) → 濃くそう(な)(koku
+sou na) → 濃そう(な) (kosou na)
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新しそうだ。 (Atarashisou da.)
It looks new.
おいしそうなさしみです。 (Oishisou na
sashimi desu.)
It's tasty looking sashimi. |
| |
Two exceptions exist among the verbal adjectives: ない (nai), meaning
"there isn't" and いい (ii), meaning "to be good".
With these two verbal adjectives the く (ku) is replaced with さ (sa):
なく (naku = ren'youkei) → なくそう(な)(naku
+sou na) → なさそう(な) (nasasou na)
よく (yoku= ren'youkei) → よくそう(な)(yoku
+sou na) → よさそう(な) (yosasou na)
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田中君が来なさそうだ。 (Tanaka-kun ga konasasou
da.)
It looks like Tanaka won't be coming.
よさそうな辞書だ。(Yosasou na jisho
da.)
The dictionary looks like it's a good one. |
| |
NOTE: そう (sou) is a "na-nominal"
or non-conjugated adjective. To find out more about conjugated and
non-conjugated adjectives check the adjectives
page .
NOTE: do not confuse the "ren'youkei
+ そう(な)" (sou na) with the "rentaikei
+ そう (sou)", or the demonstrative
pronoun "そう".
Related pages:
Rentaikei
+そう (sou)
Rentaikei
+みたい(な) (mitai na)
Rentaikei
+よう(な) (you na)
Dubitative
forms
Adjectives
The particle "な"
(na) |
