Structure
まるで + Verb + みたい(1) + だ
まるで + ［い］Adjective + みたい(1) + だ
まるで + ［な］Adjective + みたい(2) + だ
まるで + Noun + みたい(3) + だ
(1) よう
(2) なよう
(3) のよう
Details
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About まるで…ようだ
まるで～ようだ is an expression in Japanese that combines the adverb まるで (sometimes written as 丸で), and combines it with a description of (A) followed by the auxiliary verb よう (with or without either だ or です after it). 丸で 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.
Instead of ようだ, other expressions of conjecture may also be used, such as みたい.
Caution
The 'as if' or 'as though' nuance of まるで～ようだ comes primarily from either ようだ, or みたいだ, with まるで simply meaning 'entirely', or 'completely' in almost all situations.
- お客さんと話すときにはちゃんと目を見て話せ！目を見ていないとまるでお客さんの話を聞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.
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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)
Synonyms
Examples
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あなたの顔はまるで幽霊を見たようだ。
Your face totally looks as though you saw a ghost.
全部の家事をしてくれたの？まるで天使のようだ！
You did all the housework? You are just like an angel.
あの二人は仲がいい。まるで兄弟のようだ。
Those two really get along well. It is just as though they are siblings. (entirely)
彼は、まるで山のように積まれた本を見て驚いた。
He was surprised to see books stacked just as if they were a mountain. (entirely)
こんな日がくるなんて、まるで夢のようだ。
To think such a day would come, It is just as though I am in a dream. (entirely)
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Takoboto
How to use まるで
Nihongo Learner
Offline
Tobira
Page 236
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 153
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 549
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まるで…ようだ – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (4 in total)
mrnoone
@CrisH @Isurandil492
HeyThe の should be used when connecting よう and a noun. I have changed the structure section.
Cheers!
Ambo100
There is also a small section about this grammar in A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar: Page 547 (as part of the ようだ grammar) under the notes section.
Pushindawood
@Ambo100 Thank you for letting us know! I have added the page numbers to the Reading section of this grammar point. Cheers!
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