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JLPT N4 · Guessing & hearsay

ように / ような (you ni / you na)

~ように/~ような — like ~, as ~

In short · Compares one thing to another: “like ~ / as ~.” ような modifies a noun (花のような人), and ように modifies a verb or adjective (花のようにきれいだ). It attaches to a noun + の or to a plain-form verb.
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Pattern

  • 名詞 + の + ような + 名詞 like ~ (before a noun): 春のような暖かい日
  • 名詞 + の + ように + 動詞/形容詞 as ~ (before a verb or adjective): 母の料理のようにおいしい

Simile

Place the thing you compare to before の and add ような or ように. ような works like an adjective that attaches to a noun, and ように works like an adverb. The standard is often something familiar, such as flowers or spring.

Giving an example

ような can also introduce an example: 私のような初心者 (a beginner like me), 東京のような大きな町 (a big city such as Tokyo). In this use the example is typical of the group.

Examples

  • 彼女(かのじょ)は花(はな)のような人(ひと)です。

    Kanojo wa hana no yō na hito desu.

    She is a person like a flower.

  • 今日(きょう)は春(はる)のような暖(あたた)かい日(ひ)です。

    Kyō wa haru no yō na atatakai hi desu.

    Today is a warm day like spring.

  • 母(はは)が作(つく)る料理(りょうり)のようにおいしく作(つく)りたい。

    Haha ga tsukuru ryōri no yō ni oishiku tsukuritai.

    I want to cook as deliciously as the food my mother makes.

Common mistakes

  • Put の between the noun and ような: 花のような, not 花ような.
  • Choose ような before a noun and ように before a verb or adjective.

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