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.
He ran like mad.
I studied like mad.
Means 'fiercely' or 'violently'. Common for describing intense actions, work, or weather.
I worked like mad.
It's raining like mad.
Literally 'as if mad with the fear of death'. Emphasizes desperate, frantic effort. Stronger than 必死に.
I ran away like mad.
Means 'recklessly' or 'with reckless abandon'. Implies throwing oneself into something without thinking.
I worked like mad.
Describes moving or doing something very fast.
Describes doing something with intense enjoyment or passion.
Describes doing something a lot or to an extreme degree.
Means 'indiscriminately' or 'excessively'. Often used for doing something too much or without restraint.
I ate like mad.
I spent money like mad.
Means 'recklessly' or 'excessively'. Can imply disorder or lack of control.
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.