Translation guide
Expresses that something does not appear to be the case based on evidence or impression. Japanese uses several constructions depending on the type of evidence (direct observation, hearsay, inference) and the part of speech of the word it attaches to.
The speaker judges from what they see or perceive that something is not the case.
Attaches to the stem of verbs and adjectives. ～そうにない and ～そうもない are more common for verbs, while ～そうではない is used with nouns and na-adjectives. Expresses a negative impression based on direct evidence.
雨が降りそうにない。
It doesn't look like it's going to rain.
He doesn't seem like he's coming.
この料理はおいしそうではない。
This dish doesn't look tasty.
Literally 'does not look like'. Used when the visual evidence contradicts an assumption. More objective than ～そうにない.
彼は疲れているように見えない。
He doesn't look tired.
The speaker reports that according to what they've heard, something is not the case.
Used to report hearsay. ～ないそうだ is more common in spoken Japanese, while ～ないということだ is slightly more formal.
明日は雨が降らないそうだ。
I heard it's not going to rain tomorrow.
彼は来ないということだ。
I heard that he's not coming.
Expresses conjecture based on indirect evidence or hearsay. Less certain than ～そうだ.
彼は来ないらしい。
It seems he's not coming (from what I've heard).
The speaker deduces that something is not the case based on reasoning.
Expresses a subjective inference based on evidence. ～ないみたいだ is more colloquial. Both are very common.
彼はまだ来ていないようだ。
It seems he hasn't arrived yet.
この問題は難しくないみたいだ。
This problem doesn't seem difficult.
Strongly expresses that something cannot be the case based on logic or expectation. 'There's no way that...'
彼がそんなことをするはずがない。
He can't possibly do such a thing. (It doesn't seem possible.)
To say that something does not seem to be a certain noun or na-adjective quality.
The negative form of ～そうだ for nouns and na-adjectives. Used when something doesn't appear to be X.
彼は学生ではなさそうだ。
He doesn't seem to be a student.
この部屋は静かではなさそうだ。
This room doesn't seem quiet.
Use そうにない with verbs and i-adjectives (e.g., 降りそうにない, 高そうにない). Use ではなさそうだ with nouns and na-adjectives (e.g., 学生ではなさそうだ, 静かではなさそうだ).
Do not directly translate 'does not seem' as 見えない in most contexts. 見えない means 'cannot see' and is only used for visual appearance. Use the patterns above for general impressions.