〜らしい（推量） “apparently ~” / “I heard that ~” — expressing inference based on evidence or hearsay
【Meaning】 Used to express that the speaker has reached a conclusion based on objective information they received from outside — such as news, rumors, or observable evidence. The speaker is not stating their own direct experience or opinion, but rather conveying what they have gathered from the world around them.
Note: らしい carries a nuance of reasonable confidence. The speaker has some basis for what they are saying — it is not a wild guess. This is what separates it from other expressions of uncertainty like かもしれない (“might be”) or でしょう (“probably”).
【English Translation】 “apparently ~” / “I heard that ~” / “it seems that ~” / “they say that ~” Conveys that the speaker’s statement is based on indirect information or evidence, not personal experience or certainty.
Note: The most natural English translation often depends on context. When the source is hearsay, “apparently” or “I heard that” fits best. When the source is observable evidence, “it seems that” is closer in nuance.
【Conjugation】
Plain form (普通形) ＋ らしい
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | 行くらしい — apparently going |
| Verb (ない-form) | 行かないらしい — apparently not going |
| Verb (た-form) | 行ったらしい — apparently went |
| い-adjective | 寒いらしい — apparently cold |
| な-adjective (drop な) | 元気らしい — apparently doing well |
| Noun | 雨らしい — apparently rain |
Note: For な-adjectives and nouns, the な and だ are dropped before らしい. This is a common mistake among learners.
【Similar Grammars & Key Differences】
らしい vs. ようだ vs. そうだ（伝聞）vs. かもしれない
① 〜らしい — Based on information received from outside (news, rumors, general knowledge). The speaker accepts this information as reasonably reliable. ② 〜ようだ — Based on the speaker’s own direct observation or sensory experience. More personal and subjective. ③ 〜そうだ（伝聞）— Directly quoting or relaying what someone else said. The source is usually a specific, recent statement. Very close in meaning to らしい, but そうだ feels more immediate and tied to one specific source. ④ 〜かもしれない — A guess with low to moderate confidence. The speaker has little firm basis for the claim.
A useful way to remember the distinction: らしい means you absorbed the information naturally from the world around you. ようだ means you observed it yourself. そうだ means someone told you directly. かもしれない means you are genuinely unsure.
【Example Sentences】
① 来週、大きい台風が来るらしいです。 (らいしゅう、おおきいたいふうがくるらしいです。) → Apparently a big typhoon is coming next week. ▸ Source: news or weather forecast — a typical use of らしい
② 田中さんは来月、結婚するらしいです。 (たなかさんはらいげつ、けっこんするらしいです。) → I heard that Tanaka-san is getting married next month. ▸ Source: office rumor — らしい is perfect for hearsay in social contexts
③ このラーメン屋はとても有名らしいです。 (このラーメンやはとてもゆうめいらしいです。) → Apparently this ramen shop is very famous. ▸ な-adjective (有名) + らしい — note that だ is dropped
④ 社長は毎朝５時に起きて、走るらしいです。私はそれを聞いて、転職を考え始めました。 (しゃちょうはまいあさごじにおきて、はしるらしいです。わたしはそれをきいて、てんしょくをかんがえはじめました。) → Apparently the company president wakes up at 5am every morning and goes for a run. When I heard that, I started thinking about changing jobs. ▸ らしい used for workplace hearsay — and some things are better left unheard
【Question】
Read the following sentences and choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank.
「ニュースによると、来年から電車の料金が上がる______です。」
① ようだ ② らしい ③ かもしれない ④ そうだ
Answer: ② The key phrase here is ニュースによると (“according to the news”). This signals that the speaker received information from an external source — the defining condition for らしい. ① ようだ would require the speaker’s own direct observation. ③ かもしれない expresses mere guessing with no stated basis. ④ そうだ (伝聞) is also grammatically possible, but らしい is more natural when referencing a general media source rather than a specific person’s statement.