Japanese Grammar Bank

HOW TO EXPRESS SIMILARITY

Expressing similarity in Japanese is something that we do every single day without even thinking about it.

Learning how to effectively do it in Japanese is a key skill to help you have meaningful conversations.

Let’s learn how to use it with よう you, みたい mitai and っぽい ppoi.

SIMILARITY WITH よう

よう you

PATTERN #1

Noun + のように + Verb

PATTERN #3

Verb (Casual) + ように + Verb

PATTERN #2

Noun + のような + Noun/Adj

PATTERN #4

Verb (Casual) + ような + Noun/Adj

These constructs are used to describe likeness in Japanese. With these, you can form sentences like, “I can run like Usain Bolt,” or, “I sleep like a monkey.” With this construct, you would put the words in the opposite order to English.

Let’s look at an example:
“I can run like Usain Bolt.”

To make this Japanese, we would put Usain Bolt before the のように, and the verb after.

So, we would end up with:

Usain Boruto no you ni hashiru koto ga dekimasu.

ウサイン・ボルトのように走ることができます。

This is used more in formal speech than the following みたい form but isn’t necessarily formal in itself.

NOTE || Don’t confuse this grammar point with ようだ, which means “appears like” or “seems like,” as in the sentence “It seems like it’s going to be cold tomorrow.” This one is talking about similarities between things.

#1 のように Examples:
彼女は日本人のように話す。Kanojo wa nihonjin no you ni hanasu.She speaks Japanese like a native.
レストランの内部は伝統の茶室のようにデザインされている。Resutoran no naibu wa dentou no chashitsu no you ni dezain sareteiru.The restaurant’s interior is designed like a traditional Japanese teahouse.
彼はプロフェッショナルな歌手のように美しく歌う。Kare wa purofesshonaru na kashu no you ni utsukushiku utau.He sings as beautifully as a professional singer.
この街はニューヨークのように活気だ。Kono machi wa nyuu yooku no you ni nigiyaka da.This city is vibrant, like New York.
彼女は優雅なバレリーナのように優雅に踊る。Kanojo wa yuuga na barerina no you ni yoku odoru.She dances gracefully, just like a ballerina.
シェフはミシュランの三つ星シェフのように細かく料理を作る。Shefu wa michirin no shiifu shefu no you ni kokoromisoshiku ryouri o tsukuru.The chef prepares dishes as meticulously as a Michelin-starred chef.
彼は愛するおじいさんのように暖かい笑顔をする。Kare wa aisuru ojiisan no you ni atatakai egao o suru.He smiles warmly, like a loving grandfather.
森は静寂な禅庭園のように静かだ。Mori wa seijaku na zen teien no you ni shizuka da.The forest is serene, resembling a tranquil Zen Garden.
彼女は画家のように精確な書道を書く。Kanojo wa kakuusha no you ni seikakuna shodou o kakimasu.She writes calligraphy with precision, like a master calligrapher.
彼の作品は抽象な現代アーティストの創造のように抽象的だ。Kare no sakuhin wa chousetsu na gendai atisuto no souzou no you ni abusutorakuto da.His artwork is abstract, akin to a modern artist’s creations.
#2 のような Examples:
彼女の笑顔は太陽のようなものだ。Kanojo no egao wa taiyou no you na mono da.Her smile is like a ray of sunshine.
彼の声は雷のような深さだ。Kare no koe wa kaminari no you na fukasa da.His voice is as deep as thunder.
山の静寂は禅窟のようなものだ。Yama no seijaku wa zenkutsu no you na mono da.The mountain’s silence is akin to a meditative retreat.
彼女はおばあさんのような笑顔を持っている。Kanojo wa obaa-san no you na egao o motte iru.She has a smile reminiscent of her grandmother’s.
彼のエネルギーは雄牛のようなものだ。Kare no enerugii wa osu no you na mono da.His energy is like that of a charging bull.
夕日の美しさは絵のようなものだ。Yuuhi no utsukushisa wa e no you na mono da.The sunset’s beauty is like a painting.
レストランの雰囲気はパリのカフェのようなものだ。Resutoran no kuuki wa pari no kafe no you na mono da.The restaurant’s atmosphere is reminiscent of a Parisian Cafe.
彼女の笑いは子供の笑い声のようなものだ。Kanojo no warai wa kodomo no waraigoe no you na mono da.Her laughter is as infectious as a child’s giggles.
彼のプロジェクトへの取り組みは真のアーティストのようなものだ。Kare no purojekuto e no shuuyou wa shin no atisuto no you na mono da.His dedication to the project is like that of a true artist.
庭の静けさは禅寺院の静かさのようなものだ。Niwa no seijaku wa zenjiin no shizuka no you na mono da.The garden’s tranquillity is reminiscent of a Zen temple’s serenity.

SIMILARITY WITH みたい

みたい mitai

This is another form that we can use to express likeness. This is very commonly used in conversations and is much less formal than ようだ.

みたい is used when what is said is based on direct and reliable information.

The structure of this grammar point is:

PATTERN #1

Verb (casual)/Noun + みたいに + Verb

PATTERN #2

Verb (casual)/Noun + みたいな+ Noun

If it’s at the end of a sentence, you’d add だ because みたい conjugates as a noun or な–adjective.

For example, お人形さんみたいだ (It’s like a doll).

彼女は天使みたいに歌う。Kanojo wa tenshi mitai ni utau.She sings like an angel.
彼の笑顔は太陽みたいに明るい。Kare no egao wa taiyou mitai ni akarui.His smile is like sunshine.
彼女は白鳥みたいに優雅に踊る。Kanojo wa hakuchou mitai ni yuuga ni odoru.She dances gracefully like a swan.
View More Examples:
彼は勤勉な学生みたいに働く。Kare wa kinben na gakusei mitai ni hataraku.He works diligently like a dedicated student.
彼女はプロフェッショナルシェフみたいに料理をする。Kanojo wa purofesshonaru shefu mitai ni ryouri o suru.She cooks like a professional chef.
彼の集中は純粋なアーティストみたいに続く。Kare no shuuchou wa junbi na atisuto mitai ni tsuzuku.His dedication is like that of a devoted artist.
庭は日本の禅庭園みたいにデザインされています。Niwa wa Nihon no Zen teien mitai ni dezain sareteimasu.The garden is designed to look like a Japanese Zen Garden.
夕日は絵みたいに美しい。Yuuhi wa e mitai ni utsukushii.The sunset is beautiful, like a painting.
彼は講演者みたいに自信を持って話す。Kare wa kouenkyousha mitai ni jishin kanarazu ni hanasu.He speaks confidently, like a public speaker.
彼女の作品は現代アーティストの創造みたいに抽象的だ。Kanojo no sakuhin wa gendai atisuto no souzou mitai ni abusutorakuto da.Her artwork is abstract, like modern artist’s creations.

SIMILARITY WITH っぽい

っぽい ppoi

This is a very casual way to express similarity.

いadjective or noun

When used with an い adjective or noun it is similar to -ish, -ly, or -like.

For example, if you wanted to say “oily” in Japanese you’d say 油っぽい (literally: like oil). When it is added to anい adjective, it actually forms a new い adjective.

NOTE || Be aware that you can’t use っぽい with every い adjective. To play it safe, don’t try to use っぽい with adjectives of emotions like 嬉しい (happy).

Verb

When used with a verb the meaning is more in line with “easy to ___” or “often ___”.

For example, if you want to say, “I always forget,” you would say 忘れっぽい.

PATTERN

Verb / Noun / い adjective +っぽい

Using っぽい implies that the thing that you add っぽい to is in excess of what is expected, and therefore has a slightly negative connotation.

油っぽい食事は大嫌いです。Aburappoi shokuji wa suki desu.I hate oily food.
私はあなたの子供っぽいところが好きじゃないです。Watashi wa anata no kodomo ppoi tokoro ga suki ja nai desu.I don’t like your childish side.
あの子は、大人っぽいです。Ano ko wa otona ppoi desu.That kid looks (too) mature.
この牛乳は水っぽくて、まずいです。Kono gyuunyuu wa mizu ppoi te, mazui desu.This milk is watery and tastes bad.
この靴の生地が安っぽいね。Kono kutsu no kiji ga yasuppoi ne.The material of these shoes looks cheap.
忘れっぽくなった。Wasureppoku natta.I’ve become forgetful.
彼女は怒りっぽいが良い友人だ。Kanojo wa ikarippoi ga ii tomodachi da.She’s quick to become angry but a good friend.
彼は飽きっぽくないから何事も成功しますのだ。Kare wa akippoku nai kara nanigoto mo seikou shimasu no da.He is easily bored, so you succeed in everything.

SUMMARY

  • ようand みたい are used to express similarities between things, with the latter being used more commonly in daily conversation.
  • Don’t confuse this use of よう with ようだ which means “it appears that”.
  • っぽい is used with Verb ます/ Noun / い adjective and can range in meanings from -ish, to “I always ___”.
  • っぽい can only be used with limited い adjectives (none that express emotion) and verbs.

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FAQs

How to express similarity with よう?

There are 4 structures:

Noun + のように + Verb
Noun + のような + Noun/Adj

Verb (Casual) + ように + Verb
Verb (Casual) + ような + Noun/Adj

These constructs are used to describe likeness in Japanese. With these, you can form sentences like, “I can run like Usain Bolt,” or, “I sleep like a monkey.” With this construct, you would put the words in the opposite order to English.

Let’s look at an example:

“I can run like Usain Bolt.”

To make this Japanese, we would put Usain Bolt before the のように, and the verb after.

So, we would end up with:

ウサイン・ボルトのように走ることができます。

This is used more in formal speech than the following みたい form but isn’t necessarily formal in itself.

How to express similarity with みたい?

This is another form that we can use to express likeness. This is very commonly used in conversations and is much less formal than ようだ.

みたい is used when what is said is based on direct and reliable information.

The structures of this grammar point are:

Verb (casual)/Noun + みたいに + Verb
Verb (casual)/Noun + みたいな+ Noun

If it’s at the end of a sentence, you’d add だ because みたい conjugates as a noun or な–adjective.

彼女は天使みたいに歌う。She sings like an angel.

How to express similarity with っぽい?

This is a very casual way to express similarity.

いadjective or noun

When used with an い adjective or noun it is similar to -ish, -ly, or -like.

For example, if you wanted to say “oily” in Japanese you’d say 油っぽい (literally: like oil). When it is added to anい adjective, it actually forms a new い adjective.

NOTE || Be aware that you can’t use っぽい with every い adjective. To play it safe, don’t try to use っぽい with adjectives of emotions like 嬉しい (happy).

Verb

When used with a verb the meaning is more in line with “easy to ___” or “often ___”.

For example, if you want to say, “I always forget,” you would say 忘れっぽい.

Verb / Noun / い adjective +っぽい

Using っぽい implies that the thing that you add っぽい to is in excess of what is expected, and therefore has a slightly negative connotation.

油っぽい食事は大嫌いです。I hate oily food.

How to make suggestions in Japanese?

た方がいい (ta hou ga ii) is probably the most commonly used way to express “you should” in Japanese.

Add た方がいい to the past-tenseた form of the verb that you’re suggesting should be done.

Example:

早く寝たほうがいいですよ。(hayaku neta hou ga ii desu yo) You should go to bed early.

—

ばいいですか (ba ii desu ka) is used to ask for suggestion.

You have to make the ば ba form of the verb first, and then throw on the rest.

Example:

どの映画を見ればいいですか？(dono eiga o mireba ii desu ka?) Which movie should I watch?

—

Check out the full lesson on suggestions in Japanese here.

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