〜そうだ (伝聞)
I heard that 〜そうだ (hearsay)
Meaning
Hearsay — "I heard that ~ / they say that ~". Reports information obtained from another source (news, rumor, someone else).
Formation
[plain form] + そうです (普通形 + そうです)
Notes
ALWAYS uses the plain form before そう (雨が降るそうです, NOT ×降りそうです — that's the OTHER そう). Source often given with 〜によると: 天気予報によると、明日は雨だそうです.
Examples
天気予報（てんきよほう）によると、明日（あした）は雨（あめ）だそうです。
According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Breakdown
田中（たなか）さんは来月（らいげつ）結婚（けっこん）するそうです。
I heard Tanaka-san is getting married next month.
Breakdown
あのレストランは美味（おい）しいそうです。
I've heard that restaurant is good.
Breakdown
ニュースによると、地震（じしん）があったそうです。
According to the news, there was an earthquake.
Breakdown
彼（かれ）は病気（びょうき）だそうです。
I heard he is sick.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜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...
〜ようだ / 〜ような / 〜ように
Appears / seems 〜ようだ
Conjecture or resemblance — "it appears that ~ / it seems ~ / like ~". More formal than み...
〜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.