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Japanese Texts Using 〜そうだ (looks like / seems (appearance))

11 free Japanese reading texts that use the N4 grammar point 〜そうだ (looks like / seems (appearance)), graded beginner to advanced. Furigana on every word, tap-to-look-up, and an English vocabulary & grammar breakdown on each text.

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ミチコサン cover Read ミチコサン Michiko-san 新美 南吉 2 min read · Short Story ウミベノマヒゴ cover Read ウミベノマヒゴ The Lost Child at the Beach 村山 籌子 2 min read · Short Story あひるさん　と　にはとりさん cover Read あひるさん　と　にはとりさん Mr. Duck and Mr. Chicken 村山 籌子 6 min read · Short Story 政ちゃんと赤いりんご cover Read 政ちゃんと赤いりんご Masa-chan and the Red Apple 小川 未明 8 min read · Short Story 魔法の笛 cover Read 魔法の笛 The Magic Flute ブラウニング ロバート 7 min read · Short Story 和尚さんと小僧 cover Read 和尚さんと小僧 The Priest and the Apprentice 楠山 正雄 5 min read · Short Story 初往診 cover Read 初往診 First House Call 小酒井 不木 3 min read · Short Story ブレーメンの町楽隊 cover Read ブレーメンの町楽隊 The Bremen Town Musicians グリム ヤーコプ・ルートヴィッヒ・カール 9 min read · Short Story 風 cover Read 風 The Wind 竹久 夢二 2 min read · Short Story 天井裏の妖婆 cover Read 天井裏の妖婆 The Witch in the Attic 田中 貢太郎 1 min read · Short Story 少女と海鬼灯 cover Read 少女と海鬼灯 The Girl and the Sea Lantern 野口 雨情 2 min read · Short Story

解説かいせつBackground

About the grammar point 〜そうだ

〜そうだ (looks like / seems (appearance)) is a N4 grammar point. This shelf collects 11 free Japanese texts that use 〜そうだ in real context — graded from beginner to advanced, with furigana above every kanji — so you meet the pattern in living sentences instead of an isolated textbook example.

Every read on Yomimaru pairs the Japanese with an English study layer — key vocabulary, the grammar it uses, and a short comprehension check — plus tap-to-look-up on any word. Seeing 〜そうだ across many stories is one of the fastest ways to turn a memorised rule into something you recognise on sight.

質問しつもんQuestions

〜そうだ: questions & answers

What does 〜そうだ mean?

〜そうだ (looks like / seems (appearance)) is a N4-level Japanese grammar point. The 11 texts on this shelf show it used naturally, each with an English breakdown so you can see exactly how it works in a sentence.

What JLPT level is 〜そうだ?

〜そうだ is typically introduced around JLPT N4. The reading texts here span several JLPT levels, so you can practise the pattern at, below, or slightly above your current level.

How can I practise 〜そうだ by reading?

Read a text from this shelf a little above your comfort level, lean on the furigana and instant lookups to stay in the story, then review how 〜そうだ was used afterwards. Free to read in full — a free account adds saved progress and AI study tools.