GRAMMAR
〜そうにない
unlikely to
no sign of
Explanation
NOTE
〜そうにない means doesn't look like it will happen or unlikely to V — the negative version of 〜そうだ (looks like).
仕事が今日中に終わりそうにない。
The work doesn't look like it will finish by today.
Used when the speaker judges from appearances that an action probably won't occur.
NOTE
Use it when visible evidence or current circumstances suggest the action won't take place. It conveys the speaker's impression, not a fact.
NOTE
Attach そうにない to the verb ます-stem by dropping ます (降ります → 降りそうにない). A common variant is そうもない with the same meaning.
STRUCTURE
Vます
そうにない雨は当分降りそうにない。
Ame wa toubun furisou ni nai.
It doesn't look like it will rain for a while.
この問題は簡単には解決しそうにない。
Kono mondai wa kantan ni wa kaiketsu shisou ni nai.
This problem doesn't look like it will be solved easily.
彼は約束を守りそうにない。
Kare wa yakusoku wo mamorisou ni nai.
He doesn't look like he'll keep his promise.
今日中に仕事が終わりそうにないです。
Kyoujuu ni shigoto ga owarisou ni nai desu.
It is unlikely that the work will be finished today.
あの人は約束の時間に来そうにないです。
Ano hito wa yakusoku no jikan ni kisou ni nai desu.
It doesn't look like that person will arrive at the scheduled time.
この雨はすぐ止みそうにないですね。
Kono ame wa sugu yamisou ni nai desu ne.
There is no sign of this rain stopping anytime soon.
Practice exercises
1
十分な準備をしたにもかかわらず、この計画は成功し成功しそうにない。
Despite thorough preparation, this project is unlikely to succeed.
Answer
成功しそうにない
2
時間がないわけでは無くはないが、この作業は今日中に終わりそうにない。
It's not that there's no time, but this task is unlikely to finish by the end of today.
Answer
終わりそうにない
3
彼の説明では納得し兼ます。どうも理解理解しそうにない。
I'm unable to agree with his explanation. I'm unlikely to understand it at all.
Answer
理解しそうにない
4
練習しないと試合に勝てるっこない。このままでは勝ち勝ちそうにない。
If you don't practice, there's no way you can win the game. At this rate, you're unlikely to win.
Answer
勝ちそうにない
5
天気が悪いので、予定通りに旅行へ行きそうにない。
Since the weather is bad, we are unlikely to go on a trip as planned.
Answer
行きそうにない