さも
Meanings
1
usually written using kana alone
Used to emphasize that something appears or seems a certain way, often with a nuance of 'indeed' or 'very much so'. Common before verbs like そうだ, らしい, 困った, 嬉しそう, etc.
He smiled as if he were truly happy.
She answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
2
usually written using kana alone
Archaic or literary use meaning 'in that way' or 'thus'. Mostly found in the set phrase さもありなん (it may well be so; that's quite possible).
See also: さもありなん
There is an old expression 'さもありなん' (it may well be so).
Usage patterns
- さも〈事〉かのようにas if it were truly ~
He talked as if it were truly his own achievement.
- さも〈形容詞〉そうにin a way that looks genuinely ~
She smiled as if she were truly happy.
- さも〈事〉らしくin a manner that seems very much like ~
He told the lie as if it were completely true.