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Conjecture with 〜らしい

Grammar: Hearsay » 〜らしい

らしい generally expresses conjecture based on what the speaker believes is reliable information they have heard, seen, or read.

Comparable words in English include “seems”, “looks like”, “apparently”, and “I heard”.

Usage

As an auxiliary adjective, らしい may attach to a noun, adjective, or verb.

A preceding verb is plain form; may be in present, past, or present progressive tense; and may be affirmative or negative.

Related Grammar

  • そうだ
    • Differs in that it expresses a guess based on what the speaker sees, whereas らしい is based on what the speaker believes to be more reliable information.

Examples

Heard about getting along with animals with 〜らしい

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Conjecture with 〜らしい.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 49

Chino is fascinated by the rabbit at a rival tea shop, but she keeps her distance.

ココア:
「触(さわ)らないの？」
“You're not going to touch it?”
リゼ:
「チノはティッピー以外(いがい)の動物(どうぶつ)が懐(なつ)かないらしい」
“It seems that animals other than Tippy don’t warm up to Chino.”

らしい indicates Rize is reporting something she heard or observed, rather than stating it as a confirmed fact.