～かのようだ JLPT N2 Formal
〜ka no you da
Express a similarity or comparison; 'as if', 'like', 'as though'.
Formal "as if/as though" - a deliberate, considered comparison; common in writing.
Formation
Verb-casual + かのようだ, い-Adjective + かのようだ, な-Adjective + であるかのようだ, Noun + であるかのようだ
Explanation
The ～かのようだ grammar point is used to express similarity or comparison between two things or situations. It can be translated as 'as if', 'like', or 'as though' in English. The standard patterns differ depending on whether it’s used with verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, or nouns. For な-adjectives and nouns, we usually insert である before かのようだ.
Example sentences
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He seems as if he is scared of dogs.
Kare wa inu ga kowai ka no you da.
-
This room feels as if it's cold.
Kono heya wa samui ka no you da.
-
She acts as though she is a celebrity.
Kanojo wa yuumeijin de aru ka no you da.
-
He acts as if he's a child.
Kare wa kodomo de aru ka no you da.
Resemblance (Like / As If)
- ～みたいだ JLPT N4
- まるで～よう JLPT N3
- Noun のごとき Noun JLPT N1