literally; self-explanatorily
Used to emphasize that something is exactly as the words say, with no hidden meaning or interpretation needed. Often appears as a set phrase.
Literally, he is truly an honest person.
この料理は読んで字のごとく、見た目も味も素晴らしい。
This dish is, literally, wonderful both in appearance and taste.
Standard modern spelling using hiragana ごとく.
Kanji spelling 如く is also used, but hiragana ごとく is more common in modern writing.
A set phrase composed of 読んで (reading) + 字 (character/word) + の + ごとく (like/as). Literally 'as if reading the characters', meaning exactly as written.