〜らしい: hearsay / typicality is a JLPT N3 grammar point. “It seems / I hear that…”, or “typical of…” after a noun. Structure: forme neutre + らしい ・ nom + らしい (typique de). This page explains the construction, gives Japanese examples with furigana readings, and links to related grammar points at this level.

〜らしい: hearsay / typicality

Structure

forme neutre + らしい ・ nom + らしい (typique de)

Explanation

After a clause, らしい reports what you heard or inferred: 田中さんは 会社を やめるらしい “I hear Tanaka is quitting”. After a noun, it means “worthy of / typical of”: 子どもらしい “childlike”. Softer and more indirect than 〜そうだ (hearsay).

Examples

I hear it will get cold from next week.

Today's weather is typically spring-like.

Quiz preview

  • らしい ✓
  • ような
  • みたいに
  • ばかり

らしい reports hearsay: “I hear it will get cold from next week.”

  • らしい ✓
  • ような
  • そうな
  • みたいの

Noun + らしい = typical of: 春らしい天気 “typically spring-like weather”.

More N3 grammar points

〜はず: should / be expected to〜ば〜ほど: the more… the more〜ところ: about to / in the middle of / just didCausative: make / let someone do〜のに: although / even though〜ようになる: change of statePassive: to be done to〜ことになる/ことにする: decisions〜おかげで/〜せいで: thanks to / because of〜として: as / in the role of〜うちに: while / before it changes

See all N3 points →