そうだ vs らしい

[p1nk]

what is difference between the usage between そうだ vs らしい? thanks ;p

[PaulTB]

Originally Posted by p1nk

what is difference between the usage between the two? thanks ;p

If you don't mind flash, this is a decent site to check out.

~rashii = 'it appears that'

雨が降るらしい。 (Ame ga furu rashii.)
It appears to be raining.

V sou da = 'I hear that'　　

雨が降るそうです。 (Ame ga furu sou desu.)
I heard it's going to rain.

V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like'

おいしそうなさしみです。 (Oishisou na sashimi desu.)
It's tasty looking sashimi.

[p1nk]

but the V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like' and ~rashii = 'it appears that' looks similar... how to differentiate when to use either of them? thanks

[PaulTB]

Originally Posted by p1nk

but the V-masu-stem sou da = 'it looks like' and ~rashii = 'it appears that' looks similar... how to differentiate when to use either of them? thanks

I don't think there is much distinction between them. Except that I think the v-masu-stem sou da is generally based on a more imediate impression (e.g. actually seeing the meal for 美味しそうだ。 compared to らしい which might be based on a more indirect deduction.).

Don't quote me though.

[p1nk]

ok...thanks .. ;p

[Elizabeth]

One important and rather idiomatic rashii-expression is in describing a perceived seasonal change.

今年の夏は去年に比べて、ずいぶん涼しい夏でしたが特 に２週間位
前から秋らしい気候になりました。

But apparently, like you da=appears (while generally still more abstract than sou), it can represent the speaker's conjecture based on something read, seen, heard etc.
These are just sentences I've received, though, I can't vouch for their typicality.

この文章すばらしいですね。 That looks like a great sentence.

これが普通じゃないらしいと気づいたのは
かなり後になってからですが

(Although I've noticed that this doesn't seem to be as common after some time (of getting to know someone)).