Related words ようだ is the modern standard way to say 'like/as if', while 如し is its classical, literary equivalent found in old sayings and formal writing.
みたいだ is a casual, everyday way to say 'like/as if', whereas 如し is archaic and appears mainly in proverbs and classical texts.
如し is the plain/terminal form used at the end of a clause ('…のごとし '), while ごとき is the attributive form used directly before a noun.
Don't confuse with 如し is the classical predicate form that ends a clause ('is like ~'), while 如く is the adverbial form used before a verb ('like ~, [verb]').
如し ends a sentence as a predicate, while 如き is the attributive form placed directly before a noun ('a thing like ~').
Written forms 如ごと し Usage 41%
Standard kanji form for this classical auxiliary verb.
ごとし Usage 59%
若ごと し Usage <1%
Rare alternate kanji; 如し is overwhelmingly preferred.
Etymology Classical Japanese auxiliary verb. The kanji 如 is used for its meaning 'like' or 'as'. The reading ごとし is the classical shūshikei (terminal form).
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