Japanese Conversation · Level 25
90 words
Japanese word
それらしい
Pronunciation
Romajisorerashii
Meaning
- i-adjectiveplausible
Example
彼はそれらしい答えを出しました。kare wa so re ra shi i kota e o da shi ma shi ta
He gave a plausible answer.
More examples
現場にはそれらしい手がかりが残っていました。gen ba ni wa so re ra shi i te ga ka ri ga noko tte i ma shi ta
There were plausible clues left at the scene.
Core concept
Describes something that fits the expected signs of a situation or type closely enough to seem genuine or convincing.
Common phrases
それらしい理由so re ra shi i ri yū
a plausible reason
それらしい説明so re ra shi i setsu mei
a plausible explanation
それらしい答えso re ra shi i kota e
a plausible answer
Similar words
それっぽいsoreppoi: Describes something that gives a casual impression of fitting a particular situation or type.
もっともらしいmottomorashii: Describes words or an account that sound reasonable enough to be accepted as true.
本物らしいhonmonorashii: Describes an object that looks genuine and not like a copy or substitute.
Definition in Japanese
内容や様子が事実や状況に合っていて、本当らしく感じられるさま。nai yō ya yō su ga ji jitsu ya jō kyō ni a tte i te hon tō ra shi ku kan ji ra re ru sa ma
Word origin
それらしい (sorerashii) is built from それ (sore, "that") and the suffix らしい (rashī, "seeming like"), so it describes something that appears to be of that sort.
Usage tips
- Unlike a statement of fact, それらしい (sorerashii) often marks a judgment based on how well something fits the situation.
Other meanings
- that sort ofi-adjective
- resemblingi-adjective
Related words
- それらしさsorerashisaplausibilitynoun