Meaning & Usage
The hearsay version of そうだ (called 伝聞) is used to pass on information you've gathered from another source. Think of it as a way to say "I'm just the messenger." Whether you read something in a newspaper, saw it on TV, or heard a rumor from a friend, this pattern allows you to report that information objectively.
It is important to distinguish this from the "appearance" version of そうだ, which means "looks like." While the appearance version is based on your own visual intuition (e.g., "that cake looks delicious"), the hearsay version is based on external evidence. Because you are simply reporting what someone else said, this pattern helps you avoid taking personal responsibility for the accuracy of the statement.
In daily life, そうだ is common in both casual and formal settings. Use そうです to be polite to strangers or coworkers. In casual chats, friends often shorten the plain form そうだ to just って (tte). To make your source clear, you can start the sentence with 〜によると (according to...).
Structure & Formation
Hearsay そうだ always follows the plain form (casual form) of verbs, adjectives, or nouns. This is the biggest grammatical clue to tell it apart from the "appearance" version, which uses verb stems and drops the final 'i' from adjectives.
| Word Type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 動詞 (Verbs) | Plain Form + そうだ | 行く + そうだ (I heard [they] will go) |
| い-形容詞 (I-Adj) | Plain Form + そうだ | 美味しい + そうだ (I heard [it] is delicious) |
| な-形容詞 (Na-Adj) | Keep the だ + そうだ | 暇だ + そうだ (I heard [they] are free) |
| 名詞 (Nouns) | Keep the だ + そうだ | 雨だ + そうだ (I heard it is rain) |
Remember that for nouns and na-adjectives, the だ (da) is required. If you leave it out, you might accidentally change the meaning to "it looks like." Unlike verbs, the word そうだ itself does not change into a past tense form to report past events. Instead, you change the verb before it into the past tense (e.g., 行ったそうだ).
Example Sentences
Hearsay with Verbs
天気予報によると、明日は雨が降るそうです。
tenki yohou ni yoru to, ashita wa ame ga furu sou desu.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
田中さんは、もう家に帰ったそうです。
tanaka san wa, mou ie ni kaetta sou desu.
I heard that Mr. Tanaka has already gone home.
Hearsay with Adjectives
あの店の料理はとても美味しいそうです。
ano mise no ryouri wa totemo oishii sou desu.
I heard the food at that restaurant is very delicious.
昨日の試験はあまり難しくなかったそうです。
kinou no shiken wa amari muzukashiku nakatta sou desu.
I heard that yesterday's exam wasn't very difficult.
その公園は夜、とても静かだそうです。
sono kouen wa yoru, totemo shizuka da sou desu.
I heard that the park is very quiet at night.
Using Information Sources
母からの手紙によると、家族はみんな元気だそうです。
haha kara no tegami ni yoru to, kazoku wa minna genki da sou desu.
According to the letter from my mother, everyone in the family is doing well.
新聞によると、来月新しい空港ができるそうです。
shinbun ni yoru to, raigetsu atarashii kuukou ga dekiru sou desu.
The newspaper says a new airport will be built next month.
先生のお話では、来週の授業は休みだそうです。
sensei no ohanashi dewa, raishuu no jugyou wa yasumi da sou desu.
Based on what the teacher said, there will be no class next week.
Common Mistakes
1. Confusing Hearsay with Appearance
❌ 雨が降りそうです。 (When you heard the news report)
✅ 雨が降るそうです。
Using the verb stem (降り) means it looks like it might rain soon. To report what the weather forecast actually said, you must use the dictionary form (降る).
2. Dropping 'da' for Nouns and Na-Adjectives
❌ 彼は元気そうです。
✅ 彼は元気だそうです。
For hearsay, な-adjectives and nouns need だ before そうだ. Saying "元気そうです" implies you are looking at him and he appears healthy. Adding だ clarifies that you heard this information from someone else.
3. Making 'souda' Past Tense
❌ 雨が降るそうでした。
✅ 雨が降ったそうです。
If you are reporting something that happened in the past, change the verb before そうだ. The hearsay marker itself almost always stays in the present tense (そうです/そうだ).
Cultural Notes
In Japan, speakers often use そうだ to be polite and careful. By citing a source, you avoid sounding like you are spreading personal assumptions as facts. This is particularly common in professional environments or when sharing sensitive news. If the information ends up being incorrect, using hearsay grammar protects you because you were only reporting what you had been told.
News anchors use 〜そうです or the even more formal 〜とのことです constantly. In casual life, if you leave out the source entirely (like "雨だそうだ"), it implies that the info is a general rumor or common knowledge among your social circle.
Related Grammar Points
- Using かもしれない (kamoshirenai) to Express Possibility (Grammar N4)
- The Grammar of Appearance: Using ～そうだ (Grammar N4)
- Don't Have To / No Need To (Grammar N4)
- Sequence and Starting Points: Using てから (te kara) (Grammar N4)
- Resultant State (Intentional) - Te-aru (Grammar N4)
- Mastering the Japanese Passive Voice (Ukemi-kei) (Grammar N4)
JLPT Tips
On the N4 exam, look for the particle によると (according to). If you see this at the start of a sentence, the ending must be a hearsay pattern. This is a quick way to find the correct answer in multiple-choice questions.
Watch out for the "appearance" vs "hearsay" trap. If the word before そう is in its dictionary form or ends in だ, it is hearsay. If it's a verb stem or an adjective without the 'i', it is appearance. Knowing this distinction is the key to passing the N4 grammar section.