As if 〜かのように

Meaning

"As if ~" — a comparison to something that is not the case.

Formation

[plain form] + かのように（〜かのようだ / 〜かのような + noun）

Notes

Stronger than plain ように because the comparison is contrary to fact, which is why まるで so often precedes it. Use it for metaphor, not for genuine resemblance.

Examples

彼（かれ）はまるで何（なに）も知（し）らないかのように話（はな）しました。

He spoke as though he knew nothing about it.

Breakdown

まるで exactly as though なにもしらない何も知らない knows nothing かのように as if はなしました話しました spoke

春（はる）が来（き）たかのように暖（あたた）かい一日（いちにち）でした。

It was a warm day, as if spring had arrived.

Breakdown

はる春 spring きた来た came かのように as if あたたかい暖かい warm いちにち一日 a day

まるで夢（ゆめ）を見（み）ているかのようです。

It is as if I were dreaming.

Breakdown

まるで exactly as though ゆめ夢 dream みている見ている am seeing かのようです as if

彼女（かのじょ）は自分（じぶん）が見（み）たかのように説明（せつめい）しました。

She explained it as though she had seen it herself.

Breakdown

じぶん自分 herself みた見た saw かのように as if せつめいしました説明しました explained

時間（じかん）が止（と）まったかのような静（しず）けさでした。

There was a stillness as though time had stopped.

Breakdown

じかん時間 time とまった止まった stopped かのような as if しずけさ静けさ stillness

⚠️ Often confused with

〜っぽい

Somewhat / -ish 〜っぽい

Says something has the quality of ~ — "-ish", "looks like ~", "tends to ~".

〜がち

Tends to (badly) 〜がち

"Tends to ~", "is apt to ~" — nearly always about something unwanted.

〜気味

A touch of 〜気味

"A touch of ~", "slightly ~" — a mild sign of a condition, usually an unwelcome one.