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〜ごとく・〜ごとき・〜ごとし

like, as (literary)

Noun の / Verb + (かの)ごとく (+ verb) · ごとき (+ noun) · ごとし (end)

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ごとく is the classical version of ように, "like, as", and it changes shape depending on what follows:

  • ごとく before a verb: 風のごとく走り去った, "he ran off like the wind".
  • ごとき before a noun: 夢のごとき日々, "dreamlike days".
  • ごとし at the end: 光陰矢のごとし, "time flies like an arrow".

It also appears as かのごとく, "as if", like かのように (N2), and 前述のごとく, "as mentioned above".

Person + ごとき is a special use for contempt or humility: 私ごときが意見を言うのは失礼だ, "it would be rude for someone like me to give an opinion".

So the puzzle is what follows: a verb, a noun, or the end of the sentence.

Examples

  • 光陰矢こういんやのごとし。

    Time flies like an arrow.

  • 彼かれは風かぜのごとく走はしり去さった。

    He ran off like the wind.

  • 前述ぜんじゅつのごとく、計画けいかくは変更へんこうされた。

    As mentioned above, the plan has been changed.

  • 私わたしごときが意見いけんを言いうのは失礼しつれいだ。

    It would be rude for someone like me to give an opinion.

  • 彼かれは何事なにごともなかったかのごとく振ふる舞まった。

    He behaved as if nothing had happened.

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