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
Casual
Polite
まるで + Verb + みたい(1) +
まるで + [い]Adjective + みたい(1) +
まるで + [な]Adjective + みたい(2) +

まるで + Noun + みたい(3) +

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

まるで + Noun + みたい(3) + です

(1) よう
(2) よう
(3) よう
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
まるで~ようだ is an expression in Japanese that combines the 副詞(ふくし) (adverb) まるで (sometimes written as 丸(まる)で), and combines it with a description of (A) followed by the 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verb) よう (with or without either 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.
  • このゲームはものすごくリアルまるで映画(えいが)見(み)ているようだ
    This game is very realistic. It is as if I am watching a movie.
  • あの人(ひと)は私(わたし)母親(ははおや)同(おなじ)じ年(とし)だけど運動(うんどう)神経(しんけい)がいいまるで若(わか)いようだ
    That person is the same age as my mother, but is very athletic. It is as though she is young.
Instead of ようだ, other expressions of conjecture may also be used, such as みたい.
  • あの人(ひと)仕事(しごと)仕方(しかた)はまるで楽(らく)なみたい
    How that person works looks as if it is super easy.
  • 彼(かれ)は弟(おとうと)そっくりまるで兄弟(きょうだい)みたい
    He looks very similar to my younger brother. It is as if they are siblings.
Caution
The ‘as if’ or ‘as though’ nuance of まるで~ようだ comes primarily from either , or みたいだ, with まるで simply meaning ‘entirely’, or ‘completely’ in almost all situations.
  • お客(きゃく)さん話(はな)すときはちゃんと目(め)見(み)て話(はな)せ!目(め)見(み)ていないとまるでお客(きゃく)さん話(はなし)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)
Slow Male
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あなた顔(かお)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.
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全部(ぜんぶ)家事(かじ)をしてくれたの?まるで天使(てんし)ようだ
You did all the housework? You are just like an angel.
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あの家(いえ)には子供(こども)が4人(にん)いるので、まるで動物園(どうぶつえん)ようだ
Since there are four kids living in that house, it is entirely as if it were a zoo.
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Online
Books
Tobira
Page 236
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 153
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 549