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GRAMMAR
〜かのように
as if
Explanation
NOTE

〜かのように means as if or as though — used to describe an appearance or behavior that resembles something that is not actually the case.

彼かれは何なにも知しらないかのように振ふる舞まった。
He behaved as if he knew nothing.
Often used to describe a fact that contrasts with reality.
NOTE

The situation described before かのように is typically counterfactual or unreal — what looks true is not actually true.

NOTE

Attach かのように to the plain form of a verb (past or non-past).

STRUCTURE
V普
かのように
彼女かのじょはまるで女王じょおうであるかのように歩あるいた。
Kanojo wa marude joou de aru ka no you ni aruita.
She walked as if she were a queen.
彼かれはその事件じけんを見みたかのように話はなす。
Kare wa sono jiken o mita ka no you ni hanasu.
He talks as if he had seen the incident.
母はははまだ春はるなのに、夏なつが来きたかのように薄着うすぎをしている。
Haha wa mada haru na no ni, natsu ga kita ka no you ni usugi o shite iru.
Although it's still spring, my mother dresses lightly as if summer had arrived.
彼彼かれはすべてを知しっているかのように話はなしました。
Kare wa subete o shitte iru ka no yō ni hanashimashita.
He spoke as if he knew everything.
その猫ねこはまるで人間にんげんが言葉ことばを理解りかいしたかのように聞きいていました。
Sono neko wa marude ningen ga kotoba o rikai shita ka no yō ni kiite imashita.
The cat was listening as if it understood human language.
もう二度にどと会あえないかのように彼かれにさよならを言いいました。
Mō nido to aenai ka no yō ni kare ni sayonara o iimashita.
I said goodbye to him as if I would never see him again.
NOTE

〜かのように is often paired with まるで (just like) at the beginning of the clause for emphasis.

空そらはまるで燃もえているかのように赤あかかった。
The sky was red, just as if it were burning.
まるで strengthens the comparison and signals that the description is figurative.
NOTE

〜かのように is more literary and formal than its close cousins ように or みたいに. You'll often see it in novels and written descriptions.

Practice exercises

1
どうやら、彼かれは何なにでも知しっているかの様ように話はなす。
Apparently, he talks as if he knows everything.
Answer
かの様ように
2
彼女かのじょは女王じょおうであるかの様ように振ふるる舞まうので、傲慢ごうまんに違ちがいない。
Since she behaves as if she is a queen, she must be arrogant.
Answer
かの様ように
3
まるで幽霊ゆうれいがいるかの様ように震ふるえるので、周まわりの人ひとも怖こわがらせかねない。
He trembles as if there's a ghost, so he might scare people around him.
Answer
かの様ように
4
彼かれは何なにも問題もんだいがないかの様ように振ふるる舞まっているが、実じつは違ちがう。
He acts as if there are no problems, but in reality, that's not the case.
Answer
かの様ように
5
その画家がかは、まるで魂たましいを込こめているかの様ように、筆ふでを動うごかした。
The painter moved the brush as if pouring their soul into it.
Answer
かの様ように