Translation guide
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually using 'like' or 'as'. In Japanese, similes are commonly formed with ようだ, みたいだ, or the particle のようだ. This guide covers how to express similes naturally in Japanese.
To say something is like something else, using a direct comparison.
The most standard and neutral way to form a simile. ようだ follows a noun with の. It can be used in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼の心は氷のようだ。
His heart is like ice.
彼女の声は鈴の音のようだ。
Her voice is like the sound of a bell.
A more casual and colloquial alternative to ようだ. Commonly used in everyday conversation.
あの雲、綿あめみたいだね。
That cloud looks like cotton candy.
彼は子供みたいだ。
He is like a child.
Adding まるで emphasizes the comparison, similar to 'just like' or 'as if'. Often used with ようだ or みたいだ.
まるで夢のようだ。
It's just like a dream.
彼女はまるで天使のようだ。
She is just like an angel.
A literary or formal equivalent of ようだ. Used in writing, proverbs, or formal speeches. Rare in everyday conversation.
光陰矢のごとし。
Time flies like an arrow.
To compare an action or state to something else, often using 'as if' or 'like'.
ようだ can directly follow verbs or adjectives in their plain form to create a simile. This is the standard pattern.
彼は飛ぶように走った。
He ran as if flying.
彼女は泣いているようだ。
She looks like she's crying.
The casual version of ようだ for verbs and adjectives. Very common in speech.
彼は飛ぶみたいに走った。
He ran like he was flying.
Emphasizes the simile with まるで and adds か for a more hypothetical or 'as if' nuance. Often used when the comparison is not literally true.
まるで時間が止まったかのようだ。
It's as if time has stopped.
To use set phrases or words that inherently express a simile, like 'resembles' or 'similar to'.
Means 'resembles' or 'is similar to'. Used to say something looks or seems like something else. Often used with に.
彼は父親に似ている。
He resembles his father.
この花はバラに似ている。
This flower looks like a rose.
Means 'exactly like' or 'the spitting image of'. Stronger than 似ている.
彼はおじいさんにそっくりだ。
He is the spitting image of his grandfather.
Means 'can be compared to' or 'is likened to'. Used in more analytical or literary contexts.
人生はよく旅にたとえられる。
Life is often compared to a journey.
Both mean 'like' or 'as if', but ようだ is more formal and suitable for writing, while みたいだ is casual and conversational. In formal situations or written Japanese, prefer ようだ. In casual speech, みたいだ is very common.
彼は学生のようだ。（ややフォーマル）
He seems to be a student. (somewhat formal)
彼は学生みたいだ。（カジュアル）
He looks like a student. (casual)
English 'like' as a filler word (e.g., 'I was, like, so tired') does not translate to ようだ or みたいだ. Those are only for comparisons. For filler, use なんか or とか in casual speech.
なんか、すごく疲れた。
I was, like, so tired.
なんか、すごく疲れた。
I was, like, so tired.