Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 12/20

様(よう) + に・な

As・like, Just like

Structure

Verb + よう + に + Verb(1)
Verb + よう + な + Noun

(1) Adverb、［い］Adjective、［な］Adjective

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 彼(かれ)は亀(かめ)のように走(はし)る。
    He runs like a turtle.
  • バケツをひっくり返(かえ)したように雨(あめ)が降(ふ)っている。
    It is raining like a bucket was flipped over. (It's pouring rain)
  • 彼(かれ)の車(くるま)は工場(こうじょう)のような臭(にお)いがする。
    His car smells like a factory. (His car has an industrial smell)
  • キトウ先生(せんせい)は鬼(おに)のような怒(おこ)り方(かた)をする。
    The way Kito-sensei gets mad is like a demon.
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'.
  • 彼(かれ)は今(いま)、人(ひと)を殺(ころ)すような目(め)をしている。
    Right now, his eyes look as if he is about to kill someone.

Synonyms

Examples

  • 彼(かれ)は食(た)べすぎたような顔(かお)をしている。

    He looks like he ate too much.

  • あなたが言(い)ったように、事故(じこ)が起(お)こった。

    An accident happened just like you said.

  • １０代(だい)に戻(もど)ったように楽(たの)しかった。

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

  • 君(きみ)が言(い)うように綺麗(きれい)ですね。

    It is beautiful, just like you say.

  • 想像(そうぞう)できないようなアイディアが沢山(たくさん)ありました。

    I had ideas like you couldn't imagine.

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ように・ような – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    About 2 years ago

    The speaker’s desired outcome is “you understand”. Same in both sentences.
    わかるように

    AようにB
    A expresses an outcome that is desired

    The conditional of ~見れば links with ロンドンは~. The middle is filler where the speaker is trying to politely persuade the listener to agree with the rest of the sentence. I ordered the English parts such that it makes sense in English.

    Could you provide your interpretation of the sentence? Or what grammar point makes わかるように into “as you will see”?

    This thread’s original grammar point doesn’t work because it’s focused on similarity. There is nothing in the sentences that is similar to “you understand”. You would need something like:
    彼はわかるように目をつぶった。
    He closed his eyes like he understood. (like showing he understands)

  • rtatnell

    rtatnell

    About 2 years ago

    The interesting thing is the example I gave from the text book is taken from the section where the similarity ように grammar is taught (and is also linked to from that chapter here on Bunpro)

    My teacher tried to explain the first part of the sentence as being a type of example, which sadly didn’t make things any clearer.

    I have a feeling this is another area of grammar that perhaps doesn’t translate well and just needs storing in the “things you just learn” part of the brain without digging too deep into it.

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 2 years ago

    The 見れば does. みればわかる is a common expression.

    I provided my interpretation before. “As you can tell from the picture(s),…”.

    The reality that London has a lot of famous place...

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