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〜らしい

apparently; typical of, like a proper

Plain form / Noun + らしい · Noun + らしい (typical)

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らしい has two jobs.

After a plain form or a noun, it's "apparently", a conclusion from what you've heard or picked up: 田中さんは会社を辞めるらしい, "apparently Tanaka's quitting". It sounds a little more distant than そうだ, as if you're passing on what you gathered. Nouns and な-adjectives take it directly, with no だ.

After a noun, it can also mean "typical of, a proper": 春らしい天気, "real spring weather"; 君らしくない, "that's not like you". This らしい is an い-adjective, so it conjugates: らしくない, らしかった.

Which one it is usually comes from context: 男らしい is "manly", not "apparently a man".

Examples

  • 田中たなかさんは会社かいしゃを辞やめるらしいよ。

    Apparently Tanaka's quitting the company.

  • あの店みせは来月閉らいげつしまるらしいです。

    It seems that shop is closing next month.

  • 今日きょうは春はるらしい天気てんきですね。

    Real spring weather today, isn't it?

  • そんなことを言いうなんて、君きみらしくないね。

    Saying something like that isn't like you.

  • 犯人はんにんはまだ見みつかっていないらしい。

    Apparently they still haven't found the culprit.

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