Both “ようだ” and “みたいだ” mean “seems / looks like,” but they differ slightly in tone and usage. This article explains the difference simply for N5–N3 learners with easy examples and exercises.
1️⃣ What Do “ようだ” and “みたいだ” Mean?
Both are used when you guess, observe, or feel something — “It seems that…”
However, there’s a small difference:
- ようだ → more formal or written style
- みたいだ → more casual and spoken style
2️⃣ How to Use “ようだ” (Formal)
“ようだ” is used in formal situations such as reports, news, or polite speech.
💬 Examples:
- 外（そと）がくらいです。雨（あめ）がふるようだ。
The sky is dark. It seems it will rain. - 田中さんは会社（かいしゃ）の人のようだ。
Mr. Tanaka seems to be a company employee.
3️⃣ How to Use “みたいだ” (Casual)
“みたいだ” is very common in daily conversation with friends or family.
💬 Examples:
- 外がくらいね。雨がふるみたいだね。
It’s getting dark. Looks like it’s going to rain. - 田中さんは学生（がくせい）みたいだね。
Tanaka looks like a student.
4️⃣ Quick Comparison 🧩
| Point | ようだ (Formal) | みたいだ (Casual) |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Polite / formal | Friendly / casual |
| Typical usage | Work, writing, report | Conversation, family, friends |
| Example | 雨がふるようだ | 雨がふるみたいだ |
5️⃣ Common Mistakes 🚫
- ❌ × 田中さんは学生のようですね。（Too formal for casual talk）
✅ ✓ 田中さんは学生みたいですね。（Natural in conversation） - ❌ × 先生の話を聞いたみたいです。（Too casual for formal writing）
✅ ✓ 先生の話を聞いたようです。（Correct in formal writing）
6️⃣ Practice ✏️
Fill in the blank with either ようだ or みたいだ.
- 外がくらいです。雨がふる（ ）。
- 彼は学生（ ）ね。
- 今日はテストがある（ ）。
- 先生はとてもいそがしい（ ）ね。
- このカレーはスープ（ ）です。
Answers: ①ようだ ②みたいだ ③ようだ ④みたいだ ⑤みたいだ
7️⃣ Summary 🌼
- ようだ → formal, used in writing or polite speech
- みたいだ → casual, used in conversation
- Both mean “seems / looks like.”
💡 Speak = “みたいだ” ／ Write = “ようだ”
8️⃣ FAQ 💭
- Q1. What’s the difference between “ようだ” and “そうだ”?
- A1. “そうだ” describes something you can tell by looking (e.g., 雨がふりそう = It looks like rain). “ようだ” is based more on thinking or judging.
- Q2. Can I use “みたいだ” in formal speech?
- A2. It’s fine in casual talk, but use “ようだ” in business or academic writing.
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