Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 6: 6/24

まるで～様(よう)だIt is entirely as if, It is just as though

Structure

まるで + Verb + みたい(1) + だ
まるで + ［い］Adjective + みたい(1) + だ
まるで + ［な］Adjective + みたい(2) + だ
まるで + Noun + みたい(3) + だ

(1) よう
(2) なよう
(3) のよう

Details

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About まるで…ようだ

まるで～ようだ is an expression in Japanese that combines the adverb まるで (sometimes written as 丸(まる)で), and combines it with a description of (A) followed by the auxiliary verb よう (with or without either だ or です after it). 丸(まる)で can be translated as 'entirely', or 'completely', while the whole expression may be understood as 'it seems entirely as though (A)'.

まるで will be used at the beginning of a sentence, before the description of what (A) seems to be like.

Instead of ようだ, other expressions of conjecture may also be used, such as みたい.

Caution

The 'as if' or 'as though' nuance of まるで～ようだ comes primarily from either ようだ, or みたいだ, with まるで simply meaning 'entirely', or 'completely' in almost all situations.

  • お客(きゃく)さんと話(はな)すときにはちゃんと目(め)を見(み)て話(はな)せ！目(め)を見(み)ていないとまるでお客(きゃく)さんの話(はなし)を聞(き)いていないみたいじゃないか。
    Look at the customers eyes when you talk to them! If you don't make eye contact, it is as though you are not listening to what they are saying.
  • なんだそのフォームは？まるでなってないぞ！
    What is that form? That is completely unacceptable. (Natural, but different meaning)

Examples

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    あなたの顔(かお)はまるで幽霊(ゆうれい)を見(み)たようだ。

    Your face totally looks as though you saw a ghost.

    全部(ぜんぶ)の家事(かじ)をしてくれたの？まるで天使(てんし)のようだ！

    You did all the housework? You are just like an angel.

    あの二人(ふたり)は仲(なか)がいい。まるで兄弟(きょうだい)のようだ。

    Those two really get along well. It is just as though they are siblings. (entirely)

    彼(かれ)は、まるで山(やま)のように積(つ)まれた本(ほん)を見(み)て驚(おどろ)いた。

    He was surprised to see books stacked just as if they were a mountain. (entirely)

    こんな日(ひ)がくるなんて、まるで夢(ゆめ)のようだ。

    To think such a day would come, It is just as though I am in a dream. (entirely)

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      まるで…ようだ – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (4 in total)

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        @CrisH @Isurandil492
        Hey

        The の should be used when connecting よう and a noun. I have changed the structure section.

        Cheers!

      • Ambo100

        Ambo100

        There is also a small section about this grammar in A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar: Page 547 (as part of the ようだ grammar) under the notes section.

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @Ambo100 Thank you for letting us know! I have added the page numbers to the Reading section of this grammar point. Cheers!

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