ようで
(You de)
seemingly X, but actually / looks X but.
Connection rules
- ＋V plain / i-adj + ようで / ようでいて; na-adj + な / である + ようで; noun + の / である + ようで.
- ＋Apparent contradiction — surface vs. reality.
- ＋Common in character descriptions and surprising revelations.
Examples
1.
彼は強いようでいて、実は優しい。
Kare wa tsuyoi you de i te, jitsuha yasashii.
He seems strong, but is actually gentle.
「seemingly X, but actually / looks X but」
2.
簡単なようで、実は難しい。
Kantan na you de, jitsuha muzukashii.
It seems simple, but it's actually difficult.
「seemingly X, but actually / looks X but」
Practice
This task seems simple at first glance, but it is actually quite difficult.
この作業は___、実はかなり難しい。
Romaji also accepted