![(Alt Text: Joy sharing a fact [Souda] vs. Joy sharing a rumor [Rashii])](https://jplt-dialogplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Gemini_Generated_Image_f597asf597asf597.png)
(Joy sharing a fact [Souda] vs. Joy sharing a rumor [Rashii])
“I heard it will rain.”
Did you see the weather forecast? Or did you just hear a rumor?
In Japanese, we use 〜そうだ (Souda) and 〜らしい (Rashii) to distinguish the “source of information.” Let’s learn the difference with Joy and Ken!
🗣 Conversation Scene
Joy heard some interesting news about a new restaurant.
(Ken, I heard a rumor that the new restaurant by the station is delicious!)
雑誌（ざっし）には、来週（らいしゅう）オープンするそうです。まだ開（あ）いていませんよ。
(Really? According to the magazine, it opens next week. It’s not open yet.)
💡 Explanation
Both attach to the Plain Form (Dictionary form, Ta-form, etc.).
Point 1: 〜そうだ (Souda) = I heard that… (Hearsay)
Use this when the information comes from a clear source (News, Weather forecast, a specific person). You are simply passing the message.
- 天気予報（てんきよほう）によると、雨（あめ）が 降（ふ）るそうです。
(According to the forecast, it will rain.) - 田中（たなか）さんは 来（こ）ないそうです。
(I heard [directly/from a reliable source] that Tanaka-san will not come.)
Point 2: 〜らしい (Rashii) = It seems like… (Rumor)
Use this when the information is uncertain, a rumor, or a guess based on what you heard. It implies “I’m not 100% sure, but everyone says so.”
- あの二人（ふたり）は 結婚（けっこん）するらしいです。
(I heard a rumor that those two are getting married.) - 来年（らいねん）、日本（にほん）へ 行（い）けるらしいです。
(It seems we can go to Japan next year [based on vague news].)
📊 Comparison Table
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
(Watching the official news on TV)
❌ Wrong: 明日（あした）は 台風（たいふう）が 来（く）る らしいです。
(Usually, TV news is reliable. Using “Rashii” sounds like you don’t trust the TV.)
✅ Right: ニュースによると、台風（たいふう）が 来（く）る そうです。
(According to the news, it will come.)
🔥 Practice Quiz
Tap to check the answer!
