immersionlog

いかにも

truly, so typically, just as you'd imagine

いかにも + らしい · そう · Noun らしい

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いかにも says something fits a type or impression perfectly: いかにも京都らしい町並みだ, "a townscape that's so typically Kyoto".

It usually pairs with らしい ("typical of") or そう ("looks like"): いかにも楽しそうに話した, "he talked with obvious enjoyment"; いかにも高そうな時計, "a watch that looks really expensive".

It can be neutral or slightly ironic, depending on context: いかにも彼が言いそうなことだ, "that's exactly the sort of thing he'd say".

Compare さすが, which is admiration for living up to a reputation, and まるで, "just like (though it isn't)". In older or formal speech, いかにも on its own means "indeed, quite so".

Examples

  • いかにも京都きょうとらしい町並まちなみだ。

    It's a townscape that's so typical of Kyoto.

  • 彼かれはいかにも楽たのしそうに話はなした。

    He talked with obvious enjoyment.

  • いかにも彼かれが言いいそうなことだ。

    That's just the kind of thing he'd say.

  • いかにも高たかそうな時計とけいをしている。

    He's wearing a watch that looks really expensive.

  • いかにもプロらしい仕事しごとぶりだ。

    That's exactly the kind of work you'd expect from a professional.

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