JLPT N4 vocabulary
そう: meaning, reading and conjugation
Reading and pitch accent
そう
na-adjective
Meaning
(na-adjective) appearing that, seeming that, looking like, having the appearance of (after -masu stem or adj. stem)
Conjugation
| Form | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | ||
| Plain present普通形 | そう | そう |
| Plain past過去形 | そう | そう |
| Polite presentです形 | そう | そう |
| Polite pastでした形 | そう | そう |
| Te-formて形 | そう | そう |
| Modifying | ||
| Before a noun連体形 | そう | —not in common use |
| As an adverb連用形 | そう | —not in common use |
| Conditions and moods | ||
| If (-ba)ば形 | そう | そう |
| If / when (-tara)たら形 | そう | そう |
Example sentences
彼は遊ぶこととなると本当に楽しそうだ。
When it comes to playing, he looks really happy.
今日は仕事が終わらなくて休めそうにない。
My work won't get finished today, so it doesn't look like I'll get any rest.
不況にあっても彼らは楽しそうに暮らしている。
Even during the recession they seem to be enjoying life.