Translation guide
How to express 'like this' in Japanese, covering demonstrative expressions, manner, similarity, and giving examples.
こうやってください。
Please do it like this.
こんな本が欲しいです。
I want a book like this.
Describing how something is done or happens, referring to a present or just-mentioned manner.
The most common and neutral way to say 'like this' or 'in this way'. Refers to something close to the speaker or just demonstrated.
Please do it like this.
こういうふうに書いてください。
Please write it like this.
Literally 'in this kind of way', slightly more descriptive than こう. Often used when showing a method.
こんなふうに作ります。
I make it like this.
Formal/written version of こう. Common in presentations, manuals, and polite speech.
このように操作してください。
Please operate it like this.
Pointing out something that resembles or exemplifies 'this'.
Pre-noun adjectival meaning 'like this' or 'this kind of'. Used before nouns to describe something similar to what is indicated.
こんな本が欲しいです。
I want a book like this.
こんな感じでいいですか？
Is it okay like this? (lit. 'with this kind of feeling')
Similar to こんな, meaning 'this kind of'. Slightly more explanatory, often used when defining or categorizing.
Formal equivalent of こんな, used in writing and formal speech.
このような事例は珍しい。
Cases like this are rare.
Referring to a physical object or situation close to the speaker, meaning 'something like this'.
Casual contraction of こんなもの/こと. Means 'something like this' or 'this kind of thing'.
こんなのが欲しい。
I want something like this.
Standard way to say 'something like this' (tangible object).
こんなものは役に立たない。
Something like this is useless.
Refers to an intangible matter or situation 'like this'.
こんなことは初めてだ。
This has never happened before. (lit. 'Something like this is the first time.')
Imitating someone's words or actions, often with a quoting particle.
Casual quoting pattern. Use after a quoted phrase to mean 'like this', as in 'he said, "..."'.
彼は「行く」って。
He said, 'I'll go,' like this.
Standard quoting pattern. Can be used to describe how something is said or called.
彼は「はい」と言った。
He said 'yes' like this.
こう is an adverb meaning 'in this way'. こんな is an adjective meaning 'this kind of' and must be followed by a noun. このように is the formal version of こう, often used in writing or polite speech.
The English phrase 'like this' can also mean 'I like this' (verb 'like'). In Japanese, that is これが好きです (kore ga suki desu). Be careful not to mix them up.
こういう問題は難しい。
Problems like this are difficult.