Mimi Kara Oboeru N4 Grammar: 47. ~らしい

Mimi Kara Oboeru N4 Grammar: 47. ~らしい (rashii)
Here is Japanese N4 grammar study material taken from the Mimi Kara Oboeru N4 textbook.

~らしい

1. Structure:
Noun / [verb / い-adjective / な-adjective] in the plain form + らしい
But with な-adjectives drop だ.

2. Meaning:
a. Meaning 1: Inference, estimation.

リンさんは最近とてもきれいになった。恋人ができたらしい。
Rin-san wa saikin totemo kirei ni natta. Koibito ga dekitarashī.
Rin has become prettier lately. She seems to have a boyfriend.

暗くてよく見えないが、雨が降っているらしい。みんな、かさをさして歩いている。
Kurakute yoku mienaiga, ame ga futte irurashī. Min’na, kasa o sashite aruite iru.
It is too dark to see clearly, but it seems to be raining. Everyone in the street has an umbrella up.

あの店の店員さんはよく雑誌を読んでいる。店がひまらしい。
Ano mise no ten’in-san wa yoku zasshi o yonde iru. Mise ga himarashī.
The staff of that shop are always reading newspapers. Business seems to be slow.

父は仕事がいそがしいらしくて、毎晩帰りが遅い。
Chichi wa shigoto ga isogashīrashikute, maiban kaeri ga osoi.
My father’s work must be very busy; he comes home late every night.

b. Meaning 2: Passing on uncertain information (often used for rumours)

「テイさんとアリさんはこのごろあまり話しをしませんね」 「ええ、けんかをしたらしいですよ」
`Tei-san to Ari-san wa konogoro amari hanashi o shimasen ne’ `e e, kenka o shitarashīdesu yo’
Tei and Ari hardly talk to each other these days, do they. – Yes, it seems they have fallen out.

「あのレストラン、いつもすいていますね」 「ええ、うわさでは、あまりおいしくないらしいですよ」
`Ano resutoran, itsumo suite imasu ne’ `e e, uwasade wa, amari oishikunairashīdesu yo’
That restaurant is always empty, isn’t it. – Yes, rumour has it the food is not very good.

歌手のA とB が結婚するらしいといううわさだ。
Kashu no A to B ga kekkon sururashī to iu uwasada.
Rumour has it singer A married singer B.