Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 12/20

(よう) + に・なAs・like, Just like

Structure

Verb + よう + + Verb(1)
Verb + よう + + Noun

(1) Adverb、[い]Adjective[な]Adjective

Details

  • Standard

About ように・ような

We have seen many cases now where the auxiliary verb ようだ may be modified slightly to show that something is being done 'in a way' that will bring about a specific outcome. In this lesson, we will look at how ような (when used with nouns), or ように (when used with verbs) may be used with almost any noun/verb, to show that they are being done/existing in a particular manner.

Sometimes, this structure is used purely to express the speaker's uncertainty about whether (B) really is being done/existing in the way of (A). In these cases, ように (or ような) will be translated as 'as if', or 'as though'.



Examples

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  • (かれ)()すぎたような(かお)ている

    He looks like he ate too much.

  • あなた()ったように事故(じこ)()った

    An accident happened just like you said.

  • (じゅう)(だい)(もど)ったように(たの)かった

    It was fun, just like being in my teens again.

  • (きみ)()ように綺麗(きれい)です

    It is beautiful, just like you say.

  • (おどろ)ような景色(けしき)()

    I saw mind-blowing-like scenery.

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ように・ような – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (30 in total)

  • Asher

    Asher

    It certainly can be! In the situation you described, it also slightly changes the nuance.

    殺したような目 makes me think of someone with a crazed/panicked look as if they had just committed the act.

    殺すような目 makes me think of someone that is more full of hate that is on the verge of something.

    In general, when something can be used after the ‘standard’ form of a word, this just means any form that isn’t です/ます. That means 〜る、〜た、〜ている、〜ていた、〜ない、〜なかった、〜ていなかった etc

  • Mastanese1

    Mastanese1

    that makes sense! Thank you for the detailed explanation

  • The111

    The111

    I think the structure on this lesson needs to include:

    Verb + よう + に + Phrase

    Currently it only lists verb/adjective/noun as being modifiable, but it’s clear in some cases that an entire phrase is being modified. E.g. consider this example:

    うように綺麗ですね。
    It is beautiful, just like you say.

    If we claim that only the verb (the copula です) is being modified, then that implies the speaker is agreeing with every existential claim you made about this place (i.e. “it exists just in the way that you say”). I.e. maybe you said that it is other things (in addition to beautiful), but the translation makes it clear that the speaker is agreeing specifically with a single assertion (i.e. “it exists as beautiful in the way that you say”).

    Alternately consider this dialog, written in English for simplic...

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