そうに・そうな

Seem, Look like, Sound

彼女かのじょはどんな仕事しごとでも簡単かんたんそうにやるからうらやましいです。

She does all her work like it is easy, so I am very jealous of her.

Explanation

「そうに」 and 「そうな」 are two forms of 「そう」 ('looks like …').

「そうに」 modifies verbs: 「おいしそうに食べる」 (eat with obvious enjoyment).

「そうな」 modifies nouns: 「優しそうな人」 (a person who looks kind).

Both go by how someone or something looks, their expression or signs.

Mixed up with

Attached to the stem it means 'looks like': 「おいしそう」. Keep the 「い」 and add 「そうだ」 and it becomes 'I hear that': 「おいしいそうだ」.

Negatives: adjectives 「～なさそう」, e.g. 「忙しくなさそう」; verbs 「～そうにない」, 「～そうもない」, e.g. 「雨は止みそうにない」 (the rain doesn't look like stopping).

Not used for things you can plainly see to be true.

Examples

さっき、先輩せんぱいが怒おこりそうになってた。
Earlier, it seemed like senpai was going to get angry.
彼かれは忙いそがしそうに仕事しごとをしている。
He is working like he is busy.
これが入はいりそうな箱はこはある？
Is there a box that looks like it might fit this?
つまらなそうなパーティーには行いきません。
I don't go to parties that seem like they would be boring.
優やさしそうに犬いぬを撫なでた。
She petted the dog gently.
今日きょうは雨あめが降ふりそうな日ひですね。
It looks like today is going to be a rainy day doesn't it.
彼かれは分わかりやすそうな説明せつめいをしたが、まだ理解りかいができない。
He gave an explanation that seemed easy to understand, but I still don't get it.
つまらなそうな話はなしは聞ききたくない。
I don't want to hear a story that sounds boring.
あの先生せんせいは、楽たのしそうな授業じゅぎょうをしています。
That teacher gives lessons that seem fun.
雲くもがどんどん増ふえて、また雪ゆきが降ふり出だしそうな天気てんきですね。
With cloud cover rapidly increasing, it looks like the weather might be snowy again.
彼かれは真面目まじめそうな顔かおをしているが、本当ほんとうは遊あそび過すぎだ。
He looks like a serious person, but really he messes around too much.
本当ほんとうに起おこりそうな夢ゆめを見みた。
I had a dream that seemed like it could actually occur.
指ゆびの長ながい彼かれは、ピアノを上手じょうずに弾ひきそうな人ひとだ。
He, who has long fingers, seems like someone who would be good at playing the piano.
昨日きのうまたパーティーに行いったの？だから、眠ねむそうな目めをしているんだね。
You went to another party yesterday? That's why you look sleepy?
崩くずれそうな土つちの上うえは歩あるかない方ほうがいいよ。
You should not walk on top of ground that looks like it could crumble.
すごい！辛からくなさそうに食たべるね。
Wow! You eat it like it's not spicy.
大事だいじじゃなさそうな物ものは捨すててもいいよ。
You can throw away anything that does not look important.
あの人ひとは怒おこりそうもない顔かおをしているけどいつも怒おこっている。
He does not look like he gets angry a lot, but actually he is always angry.
彼かれは美味おいしくなさそうにご飯はんを食たべている。
He is eating his food like it does not taste good.

Explanation

「そうに」 and 「そうな」 are two forms of 「そう」 ('looks like …').

「そうに」 modifies verbs: 「おいしそうに食べる」 (eat with obvious enjoyment).

「そうな」 modifies nouns: 「優しそうな人」 (a person who looks kind).

Both go by how someone or something looks, their expression or signs.

Mixed up with

Attached to the stem it means 'looks like': 「おいしそう」. Keep the 「い」 and add 「そうだ」 and it becomes 'I hear that': 「おいしいそうだ」.

Not used for things you can plainly see to be true.

Examples

さっき、先輩せんぱいが怒おこりそうになってた。
Earlier, it seemed like senpai was going to get angry.
彼かれは忙いそがしそうに仕事しごとをしている。
He is working like he is busy.
これが入はいりそうな箱はこはある？
Is there a box that looks like it might fit this?
つまらなそうなパーティーには行いきません。
I don't go to parties that seem like they would be boring.
優やさしそうに犬いぬを撫なでた。
She petted the dog gently.
今日きょうは雨あめが降ふりそうな日ひですね。
It looks like today is going to be a rainy day doesn't it.
彼かれは分わかりやすそうな説明せつめいをしたが、まだ理解りかいができない。
He gave an explanation that seemed easy to understand, but I still don't get it.
つまらなそうな話はなしは聞ききたくない。
I don't want to hear a story that sounds boring.
あの先生せんせいは、楽たのしそうな授業じゅぎょうをしています。
That teacher gives lessons that seem fun.
雲くもがどんどん増ふえて、また雪ゆきが降ふり出だしそうな天気てんきですね。
With cloud cover rapidly increasing, it looks like the weather might be snowy again.
彼かれは真面目まじめそうな顔かおをしているが、本当ほんとうは遊あそび過すぎだ。
He looks like a serious person, but really he messes around too much.
本当ほんとうに起おこりそうな夢ゆめを見みた。
I had a dream that seemed like it could actually occur.
指ゆびの長ながい彼かれは、ピアノを上手じょうずに弾ひきそうな人ひとだ。
He, who has long fingers, seems like someone who would be good at playing the piano.
昨日きのうまたパーティーに行いったの？だから、眠ねむそうな目めをしているんだね。
You went to another party yesterday? That's why you look sleepy?
崩くずれそうな土つちの上うえは歩あるかない方ほうがいいよ。
You should not walk on top of ground that looks like it could crumble.
すごい！辛からくなさそうに食たべるね。
Wow! You eat it like it's not spicy.
大事だいじじゃなさそうな物ものは捨すててもいいよ。
You can throw away anything that does not look important.
あの人ひとは怒おこりそうもない顔かおをしているけどいつも怒おこっている。
He does not look like he gets angry a lot, but actually he is always angry.
彼かれは美味おいしくなさそうにご飯はんを食たべている。
He is eating his food like it does not taste good.

そうに・そうな

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

そうに・そうな

Explanation

Mixed up with

Examples

Tested once in past papers