> ねむくなってしまい **そうに** 癒される。

I can't figure out what this sentence is saying. I've asked my girlfriend and
my coworkers (both Japanese) about そうに and they can't explain it. (One of my
coworkers said it means 'a/an' but I can't see it being that. I've looked
around online but have only found そうにもない。
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2016-10-13T10:47:57.327
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question
conjugations auxiliaries
I have a question about this form そうな/そうに
Well that's a hard one. 癒される seems to imply that you are being
refreshed/rejuvenated. I would picture someone in an onsen, or receiving a
massage, and it feels good to the point where you could fall asleep.

To describe that way to use that そうに is indeed not so easy. The statement
before the そうに sort of explains in what way the action is being perceived. If
that makes sense...

眠そうに見える  
"looks sleepy"

何日も食べなかったように食べている  
"eating as if he didn't eat in a few days".
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2016-10-13T11:08:58.903
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According to "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar", page 410:  
そうだ： an auxiliary adjective which indicates that what is expressed by the
preceding sentence is the speaker's conjecture concerning an event in the
future or the present state of someone or something, based on what the speaker
sees or feels.  

Examples:  
雨が降りそうだ。  
It looks like it will rain.

あの車は高そうだ。  
That car looks expensive.
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2016-10-13T12:06:51.837
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そうに is the continuous form of the verbal auxiliary そうだ which indicates manner
and mood. For example:

> 美味し **そうに** 食べる。 -- You eat foods with keen relish.  
>  この車は速 **そうだ** 。 -- This car looks fast.

I feel ねむくなってしまいそうに癒される is a bit unnatural, and ねむくなってしまうほど癒される (I am so
comforted that I become sleepy) would be more natural.
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2016-10-13T12:21:10.977
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2016-10-14T10:40:59.597
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answer