〜ようだ
JLPT N4:seems / is like
Says something seems to be the case from what you have observed, or that one thing is like another: "seems", "appears", "is like". It is more formal than みたいだ.
How to form it
- Put the plain form before ようだ: 疲れているようだ.
- Nouns take のようだ and な-adjectives take なようだ: 夢のようだ, 暇なようだ.
- Before a noun it becomes ような, and before a verb or adjective ように: 夢のような話 (a dreamlike story), 雪のように白い (as white as snow).
Examples
彼は疲れているようです。
He seems to be tired.
まるで夢のようだ。
It's just like a dream.
Notes
- まるで (just like) often comes before a comparison with ようだ.
- For "such as" and "as (I said)", see 〜ような / 〜ように.
Similar meaning
- 〜みたいだseems / looks like
The same meanings in casual speech.
- 〜らしいapparently / typical of
"Apparently", often from something you heard.
- 〜そうだlooks like
"Looks…" from appearance; attaches to stems, as in おいしそう.