みたいだ・
みたいだ・みたいな・みたいに makes a conversational comparison: one thing resembles another, an action is done in a similar way, or something is given as an example of a category.
Choose the form by what follows
Use みたいだ to finish a comparison, みたいな when the comparison describes a noun, and みたいに when it describes how an action is done or what degree or quality something has.
The three main forms
Giving a conversational example
みたいな can also mean “such as” or “like,” presenting the first noun as a representative member of the category described by the following noun.
京都みたいな歴史のある町をゆっくり歩きたい。
I want to take a leisurely walk around a historic city such as Kyoto.
AnalyzeHere the city is not merely being compared with Kyoto; Kyoto is offered as an example of the kind of historic city the speaker means.
Describing a situation as if it were real
A whole plain clause can provide the imagined model. This is useful for vivid descriptions in which an experience or action feels similar to another situation.
この映像を見ると、本当に空を飛んでいるみたいだ。
When I watch this video, it feels as if I am really flying through the sky.
AnalyzeThe speaker compares the experience of watching the video with actually flying.
Comparison or tentative conclusion?
On this page, みたい connects a described thing or action with an identifiable model: a cloud with cotton candy, or swimming with a fish. The same form has a separate use for a tentative conclusion about what is true; in that use, there is no comparison model. For neutral or careful comparisons, the ようだ・ような・ように family is normally preferred, especially in formal prose.
More examples
子供は赤ちゃんみたいに眠っている。
The child is sleeping like a baby.
Analyzeこの氷はガラスみたいに透明だ。
This ice is as clear as glass.
Analyzeこのソファ、雲みたい。
This sofa is like a cloud.
Analyze彼女は何でも知っているみたいに話す。
She talks as if she knows everything.
Analyze大阪みたいなにぎやかな町が好きです。
I like lively cities such as Osaka.
Analyzeみんなロボットみたいに同じ動きを繰り返した。
Everyone repeated the same movements like robots.
Analyze