Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 1: 3/17

如(ごと)く

Like, Similar to, As if, The same as

よう is now used in most situations except some fixed phrases

Structure

Noun + の(1) + ごとし。
Noun + の(1) + ごとく
Noun + の(1) + ごとき + Noun

Verb + が(2) + ごとし。
Verb + が(2) + ごとく
Verb + が(2) + ごとき + Noun,

(1)であるが
(2) かの

Details

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About 如く・如き・如し

如(ごと)し is an classical auxiliary verb in Japanese which has a very similar meaning to its modern equivalent, よう 'manner of'. Just like よう, ごとし (written primarily in hiragana) focuses on the appearance of (A) based on observation. Due to this, ごとし may be translated as 'like (A)', 'similar to (A)', or 'as if it were (A)'.

ごとし is the base form of this auxiliary verb, but ごとく (the conjunctive form), and ごとき (the attributive form) will also be seen. As only ごとき is attributive, it may be followed directly by other nouns, while ごとし most often comes at the end of sentences. ごとく acts as an adverb when preceding verbs, but may also be seen before breaks in clauses. Let's look at a few examples of each form.

Like よう, ごとし and its variations will follow の when coming after a noun. However, it will follow が when coming after a verb.

As ごとし is old-fashioned, it will primarily be encountered in books, rather than in speech.

Fun Fact

The kanji 如 itself has a meaning very similar to the word 'likeness' in English, indicating something that resembles (A) in every sense of the word, but is not actually (A). This kanji can be seen in several common words in Japanese such as 如何(どう) 'how'.

Examples

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    彼女(かのじょ)の動(うご)きはバレリーナの如(ごと)し。

    Her movements are like those of a ballet dancer.

    ガンダルフの如(ごと)き英雄(えいゆう)はたんと無(な)い。

    There are not many heroes like Gandalf.

    ウサイン・ボルトの如(ごと)く走(はし)る。

    He runs like Usain Bolt.

    忍者(にんじゃ)についての小説(しょうせつ)：「カツラが疾風(はやて)の如(ごと)く庭(にわ)を駆(か)け巡(めぐ)り、塀(へい)を飛(と)び越(こ)えていった。」

    A novel about ninja: 'Katsura ran through the garden like a swift wind and jumped over the wall.'

    葬儀(そうぎ)のスピーチ：「子供(こども)の頃(ころ)、おじさんが「光陰矢(こういんや)の如(ごと)し」とよく言(い)っていました。その意味(いみ)が、今(いま)やっとわかるようになってきた気(き)がします。」

    Funeral speech: 'When I was a kid, my uncle used to say 'time flies like an arrow.' Now I feel like I'm finally starting to understand the meaning of it.'

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如く・如き・如し – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • cloud_ctrl

    cloud_ctrl

    There is a popular video game series called 龍が如く. This grammar point explanation indicates that construction with a noun must link with a の, like this: 龍の如く.

    So we have a contradiction, and either the game title is a style choice or the grammar point is unnecessarily narrow. Can anyone tell me which is the case?

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @cloud_ctrl !

    This is a style choice made by the game creator!

    The title was supposed to be 「龍の如く」, but they changed it to 「龍が如く」to make the title more impactful. This is the official answer they gave on a Q & A!

  • cloud_ctrl

    cloud_ctrl

    Thank you for the great response. How interesting!

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