<b><a href="http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/013262.html">Think We Saw <i>Pearl Harbor</i> Coming?</a></b><br/> <p><!-- ID = 76672 -->Japanese teacher: So the 'sou desu' form is used when you want to say something seems like something else. Like, Tanaka San seems happy -- you could say 'Tanaka San wa ureshisou desu.'<br/>Student #1: What if he's smiling and he just won the lottery? Would you have to say he <i>seems</i> happy, or could you say that he <i>is</i> happy?<br/>Japanese teacher: Well, you are not Tanaka San -- he could find the money to be a burden -- so you'd have to use 'sou desu.'<br/>Student #2: What if he's yelling that he's happy?<br/>Japanese teacher: He could be lying. You never know with Tanaka San...<br/><br/>--Columbia University<br/><br/>Overheard by: Vicksburg</p><br/>via <a href="http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/">Overheard in New York</a>, Jan 20, 2008