“〜rashii”: I Hear 〜 (hearsay) / Befitting a 〜 [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「高いらしい」（聞いた）vs 「男らしい」（らしさ）— hearsay “I hear …” vs “every inch a …”.
「来週パーティーがあるらしい」 — “I hear” and “has the qualities of ~”
「友達から聞いたけど、来週パーティーがあるらしい」 (a friend told me there's apparently a party next week) — 「らしい」 has two uses: ① hearsay／inference “I hear, seems” (inferring from outside info); ② typicalness “has the qualities of ~, very ~-like” (男らしい = manly). This guide covers らしい's two meanings and attachment, and separates it from the guesses 「ようだ・そうだ」.
Core: hearsay/inference vs typicalness
「らしい」 has two uses:
- ① Hearsay／inference “I hear, seems” (from heard info, external grounds): 天気予報によると、明日は雨らしい (the forecast says it'll rain tomorrow).
- ② Typicalness “has the qualities of ~” (fitting a role/trait): 男らしい (manly), 彼らしい (very him), 子供らしい (child-like).
Test: “I hear” = hearsay; “has the qualities of ~” = typicalness.
How to Connect
| Use | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hearsay／inference | plain form ＋ らしい | 雨が降るらしい |
| typicalness (noun ＋ らしい) | noun ＋ らしい | 男らしい |
| negative hearsay | 〜ないらしい | 来ないらしい |
See it in context
- 友達から聞いたけど、来週パーティーがあるらしい。(A friend told me there's a party next week.) — hearsay
- あのレストランは高いらしい。(I hear that restaurant is pricey.) — hearsay
- この作品は、いかにも彼らしい。(This work is so typically him.) — typicalness
- 今日の彼は、いつもの彼らしくない。(He's not quite his usual self today.) — typicalness (negative)
- 子供は子供らしく、元気に遊べばいい。(Kids should be kid-like and just play happily.) — typicalness
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① らしい (hearsay) vs ようだ (your own judgment). らしい = from heard／external info (明日は雨らしい = I hear it'll rain); ようだ = your own observation/judgment (道が濡れている、雨が降ったようだ = the road's wet, seems it rained). らしい leans external hearsay, ようだ your own inference.
② The two meanings by attachment/context. noun ＋ らしい is usually “typicalness” (男らしい = manly); plain form (incl. a verb clause) ＋ らしい is usually “hearsay” (雨が降るらしい = I hear it'll rain).
③ 「そうだ (hearsay)」 and 「らしい」 both mean “I hear,” but: そうだ (hearsay) is more definite, a direct relay (〜そうだ); らしい carries a “not fully certain, inferred” feel.
🔄 Compare: らしい／ようだ／そうだ (hearsay)
| Form | Basis／nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜らしい (hearsay) | heard info (inferred) | 雨らしい |
| 〜らしい (typicalness) | has the qualities of ~ | 男らしい |
| 〜ようだ | your own overall judgment | 降ったようだ |
| 〜そうだ (hearsay) | direct relay of what's heard | 降るそうだ |
💡 Learning tip
「らしい」's two meanings sort by attachment: noun ＋ らしい = typicalness (男らしい = manly, 彼らしい = very him); a verb clause／plain form ＋ らしい = hearsay (雨が降るらしい = I hear it'll rain). The hearsay らしい vs 「ようだ・そうだ」: らしい = from external heard info (not fully certain); ようだ = your own observation; そうだ (hearsay) = a direct relay. The typicalness use (〜らしい) is handy and flavorful — 「あなたらしいね」 (that's so you) is a natural line. For a deep dive on the three guessing forms, see the guide.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: 「らしい」 vs 「ようだ」?
By the source of the basis. 「らしい」 = inferred from external heard info／hearsay (天気予報で、明日は雨らしい = the forecast says rain); 「ようだ」 = from your own observation/overall judgment (空が暗い、雨が降るようだ = the sky's dark, seems it'll rain — your own read). らしい leans “heard,” ようだ leans “my own inference.”
Q: Is the 「らしい」 in 「男らしい」 the same as “I hear” 「らしい」?
Same word, different uses: 「男らしい」 is typicalness (manly, fitting “how a man should be”); 「雨が降るらしい」 is hearsay (I hear it'll rain). Told by attachment: noun directly ＋ らしい is usually “typicalness／has the qualities of”; a verb clause／plain form ＋ らしい is usually “hearsay.” The contrast 「子供らしい (child-like)／子供が生まれるらしい (I hear a baby's coming)」 makes it clear.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「友達から聞いたけど、来週パーティーがある___よ。」(I heard it from a friend)
(A) ようだ (B) らしい (C) そうだ(様態) (D) みたいだ
Q2. 「この作品は、いかにも彼女___表現だ。」(very much in her style)
(A) のようだ (B) らしい(simile) (C) そうな (D) らしい(typical trait)
Q3. 「窓の外が騒がしい。何かあった___。」(I hear noise and infer something happened)
(A) らしい (B) ようだ (C) そうだ(様態) (D) みたいだ
Q4. 「今日の彼は、いつもの彼___。おかしいな。」(he's not like his usual self today)
(A) らしい (B) らしくない (C) のようだ (D) みたいだ
Q5. 「あのレストランは高い___よ。予約が必要だって。」(I hear it's expensive — hearsay)
(A) ようだ (B) らしい (C) そうだ(様態) (D) みたいだ
Answer Key
1. (B) らしい ── ‘heard from a friend' = indirect hearsay → らしい. ようだ is direct observation, which doesn't fit.
2. (D) らしい (typical trait) ── いかにも彼女らしい表現 = an expression very much like her (typical-trait らしい).
3. (B) ようだ ── inference from one's own direct observation (hearing noise) → ようだ. (らしい leans more toward hearsay.)
4. (B) らしくない ── いつもの彼らしくない = not like his usual self (negative of trait らしい).
5. (B) らしい ── ‘I hear it's expensive, needs a reservation' = hearsay → らしい.