Japanese Grammar: Expressing Judgment 「よう」「みたい」「そう」

Japanese Grammar: よう そう

Before starting the exercise for expressing judgment 「よう」「みたい」「そう」, please clarify any doubts you may have about the grammatical rules by referring to your grammar guidebook or dictionary. The Instantaneous Composition Method requires you to compose sentences with the target sentence pattern(s) over and over in order to use them almost effortlessly. You should already have the necessary knowledge.

Reference
Genki II - Lesson 13: ~そうです
Tae Kim's Guide - Various ways to express similarity and hearsay

Instantaneous Composition Exercise for Expressing Judgment 「よう」「みたい」「そう」

This is not a translation exercise. This is the Instantaneous Composition Exercise. As if a reflexive action, try to create an equivalent Japanese sentence shortly after reading an English script. Try not to think for more than three seconds.

Natural Speed with Pauses

English and Hidden Japanese Scripts

(It) seems that going out at night is dangerous.
夜よるに出でかけるのは危あぶないようです。 
The outside looks dangerous. 
外そとは危あぶなさそうです。
(It) seems that no one is here.  
ここには誰だれもいないようです。 
(It) looks like no one is here. 
ここには誰だれもいなさそうです。 
(It) seems that Natto is not delicious. 
納豆なっとうは美味おいしくないようです。 
(It) looks like Natto is not delicious. 
納豆なっとうは美味おいしくなさそうです。 
(It) seems that Tanaka-san (will) arrive soon. 
田た中なかさんはもうすぐ着つくようです。 
(It) looks like Tanaka-san (will) arrive soon. 
田た中なかさんはもうすぐ着つきそうです。 
(It) seems that Noguchi-san (will) lose (a game). 
野の口ぐちさんは負まけるようです。 
(It) looks like Noguchi-san (will) lose (a game). 
野の口ぐちさんは負まけそうです。 

Note

「よう」 and 「みたい」 are interchangeable. However, みたい is more casual and generally used in spoken language. Here, we’re following the formal expression. The difference between 「よう」 and 「そう」 is whether people judge something by considering a situation or appearance.

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