Translation guide
How to express similarity or equivalence in Japanese, from casual comparisons to formal written patterns.
He sings just like a professional singer.
This scenery is just like a painting.
Used to say something is the very embodiment of a quality or thing. Stronger than ようだ.
His room is just like art itself.
Means 'exactly like' or 'the spitting image of'. Often used for physical resemblance.
She is just like her mother.
A literary or formal expression meaning 'just like'. Often used in written descriptions.
The scene was just like hell.
To describe doing something in the same manner as someone or something else.
The adverbial form of ようだ. Used to say 'do something just like ...'.
Please speak just like the teacher.
I want to run just like her.
Literally 'in the same way as'. Slightly more explicit than のように.
Formal expression meaning 'following the example of' or 'in imitation of'.
We will handle it just like the precedent.
To describe a situation that seems to be the case but may not be, or a hypothetical comparison.
Adds か for a more hypothetical or uncertain nuance. Often used with verbs.
He acted just like he knew nothing.
Casual equivalent of のように. Common in spoken Japanese.
She is kind just like an angel.
ようだ is slightly more formal and written, while みたいだ is conversational. Both mean 'like' or 'as if'. まるで is often added for emphasis.
He is just like a child.
He is just like a child. (more formal)
The English word 'just' in 'just like' does not directly translate to だけ or ちょうど in most cases. Use まるで or the patterns above instead.
Please do it just like last time.