Bit of a long one, I know. I know that they are linked in their meanings, but
I don't know when to use each one. Also, there are two types of そう, such as

大雪が降りそう and 大雪が降るそう

What are the differences?

Also, I hear that みたい is almost exactly the same as よう, but is more informal.
Is this correct?

I appreciate your help!
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-05T03:09:44.423
42273
2017-01-10T08:00:25.913
19109
question
grammar
What are differences between よう, みたい, だろう, らしい, そう, and っぽい?
About a verbal auxiliary そうだ. 連用形(ます stem) of a verb + そうだ and stem of an
adjective mean “manner“. They are close to the English word “look like“. Plain
form of a verb and adjective + そうだ means “hearsay“. So 「 雨が降りそうだ」 is
translated as “ It looks like rain” and 「雨が降るそうだ。」 is translated as “ I hear
it will rain.” And you can omit だ.

ようだ is a verbal auxiliary which indicates "analogy" and "guess". For example,
この花は、虹のように美しい(This flower is beautiful like a rainbow), 猫は家にはいないようだ(I guess my
cat isn't in my house.). These are other usages.
<http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/226613/meaning/m0u/>

だろう indicates speaker's guess. みたい indicates "analogy" and "unclear
predication“. らしい indicates "“hearsay“ and "a valid guess". I think っぽい can
indicate "analogy", "hearsay", “manner“ and "guess", and it isn't formal.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-05T05:04:28.040
42275
2017-01-05T10:09:39.137
2017-01-05T10:09:39.137
7320
7320
42273
answer
"大雪が降りそう" = Probably we will have big snow.(conjecture)

"大雪が降るそう" ? insufficiant. This should be "大雪が降るそうだ(hearsay)"

"みたい" is a sopken and casual word.

When you come across somebody's unreasonable attitude against you, you can say
(but only on casual occasions) "馬鹿みたい" = "It's almost foolish!"

"パリのエッフェル塔みたい！", "ナイアガラの滝みたい！" and "みたい" is almost always used as "〇〇みたい."

"エッフェル塔のようだ"、"ナイアガラの滝のようだ"

We can use "滝のよう" without "だ" in the lyrics.

We don't use "みたい" in business.

We can use "ようだ、ようです" in business. "第一四半期に入って、原価が若干増大しているようだ。（ようです。）"
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-05T07:04:06.487
42276
2017-01-10T08:00:25.913
2017-01-10T08:00:25.913
9831
19219
42273
answer