〜ようだ / 〜ような / 〜ように
Appears / seems 〜ようだ
Meaning
Conjecture or resemblance — "it appears that ~ / it seems ~ / like ~". More formal than みたいだ. Used for inference, resemblance, example, and purpose.
Formation
[plain form] + ようだ / [noun] の + ようだ (普通形・名詞+の + よう)
Notes
Four uses: (1) inference 子供が寝ているようだ "seems the child is sleeping"; (2) resemblance 子供のような顔 "child-like face"; (3) example 東京のような都市 "cities like Tokyo"; (4) purpose わかるように説明する "explain so that [you] understand".
Examples
隣（となり）の部屋（へや）に誰（だれ）かいるようです。
It appears someone is in the next room. (inference)
Breakdown
彼（かれ）は英語（えいご）が話（はな）せるようになりました。
He has become able to speak English. (becoming)
Breakdown
彼女（かのじょ）の声（こえ）は鳥（とり）のように美（うつく）しいです。
Her voice is beautiful like a bird. (resemblance ように)
Breakdown
子供（こども）にも分（わ）かるように説明（せつめい）してください。
Please explain so that even children can understand. (purpose)
Breakdown
今日（きょう）は風（かぜ）が強（つよ）いようです。
It seems the wind is strong today.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜そうだ (伝聞)
I heard that 〜そうだ (hearsay)
Hearsay — "I heard that ~ / they say that ~". Reports information obtained from another so...
〜そうだ (様態) / 〜そうに / 〜そうな
Looks like 〜そうだ (conjecture)
Visual conjecture based on appearance — "looks like ~ / seems about to ~". Based on what y...
〜らしい
Apparently / seems 〜らしい
Conjecture based on some evidence or hearsay — "apparently ~ / I hear that ~ / it seems ~"...
〜みたいだ / 〜みたいな / 〜みたいに
Looks like / seems 〜みたいだ
Conjecture based on appearance or impression — "it looks like ~ / it seems ~". More casual...
〜かもしれない
Might / perhaps 〜かもしれない
Expresses possibility — "might / perhaps / may". Indicates something is possible but not c...
〜はずだ / 〜はずです
Should be 〜はずだ (expectation)
A strong expectation based on logic or evidence — "should be ~ / ought to ~ / is supposed...
〜はずがない / 〜はずありません
Cannot be / no way 〜はずがない
Strong denial of possibility — "there's no way ~ / it cannot be that ~ / impossible". The...
〜に違いない
Must be 〜に違いない
A confident inference — "must be ~", "I am sure ~".
〜おそれがある
There is a risk that 〜おそれがある
"There is a risk / danger that ~".
〜かねない
Might well 〜かねない
"Might well ~", "could easily end up ~" — of a feared outcome.