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なさそう (nasa sō) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Does Not Look

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'なさそう (nasa sō) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Does Not Look'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The structure なさそう (nasa sō) means does not look, does not seem like or seem unlikely to.

It is used with the plain negative form, so I think it is also an opportunity to review the ない form.

How なさそう is formed

We can use this structure with nouns, adjectives and verbs.

In the case of the verbs various forms are used combined with なさそう.

Adjective in い without い+くなさそう
Adjective in な without な+じゃなさそう
Noun+じゃなさそう
Verb ない form without い+なさそう

How and when なさそう is used

なさそう is the negative form of そう and they refer to something that looks or doesn't look in a certain way, which we intuitively feel after seeing or hearing about it.

なさそう with Adjectives

In the case of the Adjectives ending in い, let's remember to remove the vowel い at the end of the word.

辛い
くなさそう

このラーメン、そんなに(から)くなさそう。

This ramen does not look so spicy.

このお()()美味(おい)しくなさそうだ。

This sweet doesn’t look tasty.

The adjective (よい) becomes ()く+なさそう

あまり調(ちょう)()がよくなさそうだよ。

You don't look very well.

The Adjectives in な function like nouns, so the term is used without the kana な.

親切な
親切
親切
親切じゃなさそう

あの(かた)(しん)(せつ)じゃなさそうだね。

That person doesn't seem very kind, does he?

なさそう with Nouns

(かれ)(わる)(ひと)じゃなさそうだ。

He doesn't seem like a bad person.

()()(せい)じゃなさそうだ。

That doesn't seem to be homemade.

()()(せい) is translated as adjective homemade; in Japanese, it has the function of noun.

なさそう with Verbs

We use the structure with the plain negative form but it is very common the form expressing desire by the suffix たい in the negative たくない.

行く
行かない
行かな
行かなさそう

He doesn't seem he will go

Let's consider now the form with the suffix たくない: don't / doesn't want to

  • ()きたくない don't / doesn't want to go
行きたくない
行きたくない
行きたくな
行きたくなさそう

From a post about Cat Behaviors:

japanesegrammar
猫, cats

()きたくなさそうな姿(すがた)可愛(かわい)い!

It's cute the image of the cat that doesn't seem he wants to go.

Other examples:

あのチームは今年(ことし)(ゆう)(しょう)しなさそうだ。

It seems like that team is not going to win this year again.

(かれ)(べん)(きょう)しなさそうだ。

He doesn’t seem like he would study.

(かれ)らは(しん)(ぱい)しなさそうだ。

It seems like they are not worried.

(かの)(じょ)はパーティに()なさそうだ。

She doesn't seem to come to party.

The verb ある that means there is / are, has its negative form as ない there isn't / aren/t and becomes なさそう.

(いそ)(ひつ)(よう)はなさそうだ。

There seems to be no need to hurry.

なさそう in the past

The past tense is expressed by the past form of the copula だ / です which becomes だった / でした.

(かの)(じょ)(きょう)()がなさそうだった。

She did not seem interested.

なさそうな and なさそうに

なさそう can be followed:

  • by the kana which turns the expression into an adjective followed by a noun or
  • by the particle to obtain the adverb followed by a verb

(かの)(じょ)(かん)(しん)がなさそうな(よう)()だった。

She did not seem interested.

(よう)() yōsu is the noun meaning situation, state, behaviour Letterally: It was a behaviour through which she didn't seem to show interest. (ひと)(とく)(ちょう): Characteristics of people

japanesegrammar
悩みがなさそうな人の特徴

(なや)みがなさそうな(ひと)(とく)(ちょう)–なぜ、そう(おも)われる?(げん)(いん)は?

Characteristics of people who seem to have no worries – Why do they think that? What are the causes?

(こう)(よう)のなさそうなものを(じょ)(がい)していきます。

We will exclude those things that do not seem to be useful.

(もの) mono indicates a thing, an object, an article or a property depending on the context. (にん)(げん)(かん)(けい) Human Relationships

japanesegrammar
健全な人間関係: Healthy Relationships

(あい)()(たの)しくなさそうにしています。これって(だれ)(せき)(にん)(けん)(ぜん)(にん)(げん)(かん)(けい)

The other person doesn't look like to enjoy. Who is responsible for this? Healthy Relationships

A hypothetical situation:

(たと)えば(ひさ)しぶりに()(とも)(だち)とカフェで(はな)している()(めん)(そう)(ぞう)してください。(あい)()(たの)しくなさそうにしています。あなたなら、どう(かん)じますか?

Imagine, for example, a situation where you are talking in a café with a friend you haven't seen in a while. It looks like the other person isn't having fun. How would you feel?

  • Other sentences with the function of adverbs:

(かれ)はやる()がなさそうに()える。

He seems unmotivated.

(かれ)らは(まった)(きょう)()がなさそうに()こえる。

They sound completely uninterested.