がましい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | がましい | がましくない |
| Polite | がましいです | がましくないですalso がましくありません |
| Past polite | がましかったです | がましくなかったですalso がましくありませんでした |
| Past | がましかった | がましくなかった |
| Te-form | がましくて | がましくなくて |
| Adverbial | がましく | |
| Conditional | がましければ | がましくなければ |
| Tara conditional | がましかったら | がましくなかったら |
-like; smacking of; savoring of
Attaches to nouns to express that something has the appearance, sound, or feel of that thing, often with a slightly negative or critical nuance. Common in words like 言い訳がましい (sounding like an excuse) or 押し付けがましい (pushy, like forcing something on someone).
His explanation sounded like an excuse.
I felt that the suggestion was pushy.
respectable; decent; presentable
reproachful; resentful; spiteful
grand; formal; ceremonial; festive · awkward; self-conscious; embarrassed
Derived from the classical adjective がまし, which expressed resemblance. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is related to the suffix がましい used in modern Japanese to form adjectives indicating likeness.