Translation guide
Expresses doing something with extreme intensity, speed, or enthusiasm. In Japanese, this is conveyed through adverbs, mimetic words, and set phrases rather than a single direct equivalent.
I studied like mad.
Means 'fiercely' or 'violently'. Common for describing intense actions, work, or weather.
猛烈に働いた。
I worked like mad.
雨が猛烈に降っている。
It's raining like mad.
Literally 'as if mad with the fear of death'. Emphasizes desperate, frantic effort. Stronger than 必死に.
死に物狂いで逃げた。
I ran away like mad.
Means 'recklessly' or 'with reckless abandon'. Implies throwing oneself into something without thinking.
がむしゃらに働いた。
I worked like mad.
Describes moving or doing something very fast.
Literally 'with tremendous force/speed'. A natural way to say 'like mad' for speed.
彼はすごい勢いで走った。
He ran like mad.
Means 'at full speed'. More literal than 'like mad' but conveys the same idea.
全速力で走った。
I ran like mad.
Describes doing something with intense enjoyment or passion.
Means 'absorbed in' or 'crazy about'. Used when someone is so into something they lose track of everything else.
夢中でゲームをした。
I played games like mad.
彼女は夢中で踊った。
She danced like mad.
Means 'enthusiastically' or 'eagerly'. Slightly more formal than 夢中で.
熱心に練習した。
I practiced like mad.
Describes doing something a lot or to an extreme degree.
Means 'indiscriminately' or 'excessively'. Often used for doing something too much or without restraint.
やたらに食べた。
I ate like mad.
やたらに金を使った。
I spent money like mad.
Means 'recklessly' or 'excessively'. Can imply disorder or lack of control.
むちゃくちゃに飲んだ。
I drank like mad.
Do not translate 'like mad' literally as 狂ったように (like a crazy person) in most contexts. While it can be used, it often sounds overly dramatic or negative. Use the adverbs above for natural expression.
必死に implies desperation or serious effort, while 夢中で implies being absorbed in something enjoyable. Choose based on the emotional tone.