ように / ような | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + のような + [noun] [noun] + のように + [verb] [verb (plain)] + ような + [noun] [verb (plain)] + ように + [verb] [i-adj] + ような / ように [na-adj] + な + ような / ように

Description

ような and ように mean "like" or "as if": they compare something to what comes in front of them. A noun takes の and a な-adjective keeps な; a verb or an い-adjective in the plain form attaches directly. Both come from the noun よう (様), "appearance".

。

She is a person like a flower.

。

I played like a child.

。

I feel as if I'm dreaming.

。

He was smiling as if nothing had happened.

× 鳥ように飛びたい → 鳥のように飛びたい

ような or ように

The word that follows decides. ような works like a な-adjective and goes before a noun. ように works like an adverb and goes before a verb or an adjective.

。

She has skin like snow.

。

Her skin is as white as snow.

× 子供のような遊んだ → 子供のように遊んだ

At the end of a sentence, it is ようだ or ようです.

。

It's just like summer, isn't it?

After a verb

A verb in the plain form gives "as if": the past for something that seems to have happened, the ている form for something that seems to be going on.

。

I felt as if time had stopped.

。

He looks as if he's lying.

ように after a verb can also mean "as", "the way": the way someone said or did it.

。

Please do it the way the teacher said.

ように or みたいに

and mean the same and are the conversational forms. みたい follows a noun directly, with no の.

。

I played like a child.

× 鳥のみたいに → 鳥みたいに

Usage notes

These go beyond comparison.

"Such as"

のような also gives an example of a kind, and the noun is then one of them.

。

I like Japanese food such as sushi and ramen.

ように "so that"

ように after a verb nobody does on purpose, followed by an action, means "so that". That is a separate grammar point.

、。

I wrote a memo so that I wouldn't forget.

Examples

。

He walks quietly like a cat.

。

It's weather just like summer, isn't it?

。

Please do it the way the teacher said.

。

I want to become a kind person like her.

。

He has a face as if he's lying.

。

He spoke as if he didn't know anything.

。

I like Japanese food such as sushi and ramen.

。

I felt as if time had stopped.

。

I felt as if I were dreaming.

。

Please don't make a mistake like yesterday's again.

。

She has skin as white as snow.

。

He was smiling as if nothing had happened.

References

ように-ようなBunpro