Observation: looking like

よう

Means that it looks like. Used from direct knowledge or experience, with a high degree of confidence.

It has two meanings:

• Looks like something: visual observation. Similar to みたい, but more polite.
• Perhaps it is. Might be something else, but it look like it is.

Contrary to そう, focuses on the more logical aspect of things.

ようだ

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + の

+ ようだ

Means that it looks like, appears like, seems like.

Example

子供こどもが嬉うれしいようだ。 The kids look happy (= I can see them laughing and smiling).

ように・ような

V (casual)

N + の

+ [ように + V] ・ [ような + N]

Expresses “in the manner of”.

Examples

新幹線しんかんせんのような速そく度ど。 Speed like a Shinkansen.

アヒルのように食べる。 To eat like a duck.

そう

Contrary to よう, focuses on a more subjective feeling.

そうだ

V ます

い-Adj い

な-Adj + だ

+ そうだ

Means that it looks like. Do not confuse with そうだ.

Examples

おいしそうだ。 lt looks like it is delicious.

そうに・そうな

V ます

い-Adj い

な-Adj + だ

+ 「そうに・そうな」 + N・V

Also means that it looks like, but connecting to nouns and verbs.

Example

面白そうに人です。 He seems like an interesting person.

みたい

みたい means similar to, like. Used for direct observation, with a high degree of certainty in consequence. Usually used for visual observation. It is a less polite form of ようだ.

みたいだ

The basic form, used with all forms of words.

Example

今日は暑いですね。夏みたいだな。 It’s hot today, isn’t it. It looks like it’s summer.

みたいに

V (casual)

N

+ みたいに + V / Adj

The adverbial form.

Example

犬みたいに食べた。 I ate like a dog.

みたいな

V (casual)

N

+ みたいな + N

Similar to the precedent form, but when using with nouns.

Example

故ふる郷さとみたいな町だ。 A city like my hometown.

らしい

Expresses an information based on hearsay, or based on the situation, or ressemblance. This is always used based on a source that is unknown or ambiguous. It can be similar to a guess. Similar to the “perhaps” meaning of ようだ. Also used for something typical, expected, characteristic.

Examples

男らしい。 Typical of a man (befitting of a man).

今日は君きみらしくない。 You aren’t yourself today.

っぽい

V ます

い-Adj い

N

+ っぽい

This has the meaning of like, easy to, -ish. Makes a direct comparison with certainty, from the point of view of the person saying it. Close to an even more casual meaning of みたい, with a focus on attitude or gesture.

Examples

子こ供どもっぽい。 Childish.

忘わすれっぽい。 Easy to forget.

気味

V ます

N

+ 気味

気味ぎみ means that it shows sign of. It talks about a condition (tiredness, sickness, lateness, etc).

Example

今日、君きみはちょっと病気びょうき気味です。 You look a bit sick today.

Summing up

• ようだ is a formal way to say that it looks like, usually from direct observation. Used for logical assumptions.
• そうだ is used for things that are on the more subjective side.
• みたい is a less formal way, used in a casual conversation. Focused on visual information.
• っぽい is even more casual. Usually used for attitude or gesture.
• らしい is usually used when something is typical or expected.
• 気味 is used for condition (tiredness, sickness, lateness, etc).

に見える

V (て)

V (casual) + ように

い-Adj + いく

な-Adj + に

N + (のよう) + に

+ 見える

This is used (unlike other forms that can apply to abstract similarities) exclusively for visual resemblance.

Example

彼女かのじょはフランス人に見える。 She looks like she is French.