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.
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彼(かれ)は亀(かめ)のように走(はし)る。
He runs like a turtle.
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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)
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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)
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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’.