Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 4: 9/18

(まい)~の(よう)Almost every ~, Nearly every ~, On a ~ basis

Structure

(まい) + Time Expression + のように

Details

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About まい~のように

In a similar way to のように, まい~のように states that something is happening 'in the manner/way of (A)'. まい means 'every' (coming from the kanji (まい)), and will always be followed by (A). (A) being a word that expresses some kind of measurement (usually time).

まい~のように is often translated as 'almost every (A)', 'nearly every (A)', or 'on an (A) basis'.

Because よう (from the kanji (よう)) usually expresses the 'manner' in which something is existing/happening, this phrase literally highlights that something occurs 'in the manner of every (A)', and is therefore up to the interpretation of the listener as to whether the speaker means 'every', or 'almost every'.

Caution

Although みたいに and のように are regularly interchangeable, that is not the case with まい~のように. This is because みたいだ is originally an abbreviation of the more formal phrase 見たような, and therefore can sound unnatural when used to describe things that cannot be seen, like time.

Examples

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    ともきさん仕事(しごと)(まえ)毎日(まいにち)のように()()った

    Tomoki-san went fishing almost every day before work.

    仕事(しごと)()ったとき毎晩(まいばん)のようにジム()

    I go to the gym nearly every night when I finish work.

    彼女(かのじょ)(かれ)出会(であ)(まえ)毎日(まいにち)のように高校(こうこう)サボっていた

    Before she met him, she used to skip school almost every day.

    (かれ)その(あと)故郷(ふるさと)毎月(まいつき)のように(かえ)った

    After that, he returned to his hometown almost every month.

    日本(にほん) 毎年(まいとし)のように(すく)なくとも1回(いっかい)地震(じしん)()こる。

    There is at least 1 earthquake in Japan nearly every year.

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      まい~のように – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        almost every…
        nearly every…
        on a ~ basis

        Structure

        • (まい
          )
          + time expression + のように

        [Can be rephrased to: ほぼ + time expression, ほとんど + time expression, time expression + くらい・ぐらい]

        [ Cannot be used to say “every number of months, years” like 3毎月(まいつき)のように. This expression cannot be rephrased to みたいに ]

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      • deltacat3

        deltacat3

        In the following example sentence, why are there two は particles?

        日本で毎年のように少なくとも1回地震が起こる
        There is at least 1 earthquake in Japan nearly every year.

        I am only familiar with the [は Topic marking] function of this particle, which doesn’t make sense here right?

      • flowsnake

        flowsnake

        Probably much too late, but if anyone else wonders this: https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/634

      • deltacat3

        deltacat3

        @flowsnake Its never to late! Thank you <3

      • MikkaT

        MikkaT

        Hi, where does the Hobo-form come from? Does it have an own grammar point?
        I could only find it as alternative answer in the example.

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        ほぼ is an adverb that means “almost”.

        I don’t think there’s a grammar point for it but there is a vocabulary item.

      • MikkaT

        MikkaT

        ah Thank you.
        By the way I always wanted to ask. Where does your name come from?
        From the manga or something else?

      • nekoyama

        nekoyama

        I like cats and mountains

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