〜そうだ（伝聞）

V-plain / い-adj / な-adj + だ / N + だ + そうだ

I hear that ~

Passes on information heard or read from another source, rather than an impression from immediate signs. It attaches to the *plain* form, unlike the looks-like そうだ. The speaker may still have an opinion about the news. Compare: 雨が降るそうです (I hear it'll rain) versus 雨が降りそうです (it looks like rain).

Examples

田中さんは来月結婚するそうです。

たなかさんはらいげつけっこんするそうです。

I hear Tanaka is getting married next month.

あの店のラーメンはおいしいそうです。

あのみせのラーメンはおいしいそうです。

They say the ramen at that place is good.

Check yourself

Which pattern is each sentence using?

田中さんは来月結婚するそうです。
I hear Tanaka is getting married next month.
あの店のラーメンはおいしいそうです。
They say the ramen at that place is good.

Easily confused with

そうだ (looks like) vs そうだ (I hear)One form, two meanings, told apart by what it attaches to
ようだ vs らしい vs そうだHow the speaker knows: a report, an inference from clues, or both