～らしい (typical)
Just like a typical example of something
You'll be able to say that someone or something shows the qualities normally expected of a group.
子供らしい元気な笑顔です。
kodomorashii genki na egao desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
That is a characteristically cheerful smile, just like a child.
Recognize a characteristic quality
Noun + らしい can mean typical of or suitably characteristic of that noun. Unlike a simple resemblance, the thing is understood as showing the expected qualities of its category.
父らしい考えです。
chichi rashii kangae desu.
That is a very typical idea of my father’s.
Form and use ～らしい (typical)
This use conjugates like an い-adjective: らしくない, らしかった. 春らしい means spring-like in a characteristic way; it is not a rumor that something is spring.
父らしい考えです。
chichi rashii kangae desu.
That is a very typical idea of my father’s.
その静かな話し方は蓮らしいです。
sono shizuka na hanashikata wa ren rashii desu.
That quiet way of speaking is typical of Ren.
A report or a typical quality
～らしい may report indirect information or describe a characteristic quality. The word it attaches to and the wider sentence tell you which reading fits.
なるらしい, report
蓮は来月先生になるらしいです。
ren wa raigetsu sensei ni naru rashii desu.
Apparently, Ren will become a teacher next month.
The speaker passes on indirect information about Ren’s future.
先生らしい, characteristic
蓮の説明は先生らしいです。
ren no setsumei wa sensei rashii desu.
Ren’s explanation is typical of a teacher.
The explanation has qualities you would expect from a teacher.
三月になって、春らしい暖かい日が続いています。
sangatsu ni natte, haru rashii atatakai hi ga tsuzuite imasu.
Now that it's March, we're having a run of warm, truly spring-like days.
最近は冬らしくない暖かい日が続いています。
saikin wa fuyu rashiku nai atatakai hi ga tsuzuite imasu.
Lately we've been having warm days that don't feel like winter at all.
明日は学生らしい服で来てください。
ashita wa gakusei rashii fuku de kite kudasai.
Please come in clothes suitable for a student tomorrow.
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