jpg-quartz/1- Grammar/Observation - Description.md

Observation & description

がる・がっている

い-Adj い

な-Adj

+ がる ・ がっている

This transforms adjective into verbs, and means "to show signs of", "to appear like". Can be conjugated: がっている means to currently show signs, がていた means to have shown signs.

[!info] Example {彼女|かのじょ}は虫を{怖|ごわ}==がる==。 She seems afraid of insects.

がり

い-Adj い

な-Adj

+ がり

Expresses a personality trait (tendency to, sensitivity towards).

[!info] Example {彼|かれ}はを{怖|ごわ}==がり==。 He has a tendency of being scared.

Looks like

よう

Means that it looks like. Used from direct knowledge or experience, with a high degree of confidence. It is a more polite form of みたい.

ようだ

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + な

N + の

+ ようだ

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

[!info] 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".

[!info] Examples {新幹線|しんかんせん}の==ような=={速度|そく|ど}。 Speed like a Shinkansen.

アヒルの==ように==食べる。 To eat like a duck.

みたい

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

みたいだ

The basic form, used with all forms of words.

[!info] 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.

[!info] 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.

[!info] Example {故郷|ふる|さと}==みたいな==町だ。 A city like my hometown.

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.

[!info] Examples {子供|こ|ども}==っぽい==。 Childish.

{忘|わす}れ==っぽい==。 Easy to forget.

らしい

Expresses an information based on hearsay, or based on the situation, or ressemblance. This is always used bases on a source that is unknown or ambiguous. It can be similar to a guess. Also used for something typical.

[!info] 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.

そう

そうだ

V (casual)

い-Adj

な-Adj + だ

N + だ

+ そうだ

Means "I heard that".

V ます

い-Adj い

な-Adj + だ

+ そうだ

Means that it looks like.

[!info] Examples テストは{難|むず}しい==だそうだ==。 The exam is said to be difficult.

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.

[!info] Example 面白==そうに==人です。 He seems like an interesting person.

Summing it up

🛠 To do: check validity.

• ==ようだ== is a formal way to say that it looks like, usually from direct observation.
• ==みたい== is a less formal way, used in a casual conversation.
• ==っぽい== is even more casual. A girl trying to be masculine would be 男っぽい.
• ==らしい== is usually used when something is typical or expected. The same girl wouldn't be either 女らしい or 男っぽい because it's not what is expected from her.
• ==そうだ== is used for something that is hearsay or not directly observation, more as a guess.

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.

[!info] Example {彼女|かのじょ}はフランス人==に見える==。 She looks like she is French.

I heard that...

と言われている

Used for something you heard by someone identifiable: for example, you were told by someone. For nouns, だ is placed before.

[!info] Example このレストランのカレーはおいしいだ==と言われています==。 The curry of this restaurant is good (someone told me).

と聞いた

Used when you heard something, but not from someone specifically identifiable: general knowledge, a rumour, etc.

[!info] Example 彼はバカ==と聞いた==。 They say he's an idiot (I've heard that he's an idiot).