immersionlog

〜かのように

as if (though it isn't so)

Plain form + かのように / かのようだ / かのような + Noun

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かのように describes something as if it were true, when it isn't: 彼は何も知らないかのように、平気な顔をしている, "he's acting calm, as if he knew nothing". The speaker knows, or suspects, that he does know.

It's often introduced with まるで ("just like"): まるで夢を見ているかのようだ, "it's as if I'm dreaming".

At the end of a sentence it's かのようだ; before a noun, かのような: 春が来たかのような暖かさ, "warmth as if spring had arrived".

Compare ように and ようだ (N4), which describe a likeness or an impression. The か adds a clear sense of "though it isn't really so". Nouns take である: 自分の家であるかのように.

Examples

  • 彼かれは何なにも知しらないかのように、平気へいきな顔かおをしている。

    He's acting calm, as if he knew nothing about it.

  • まるで夢ゆめを見みているかのようだ。

    It's as if I'm dreaming.

  • 彼女かのじょは何なにもなかったかのように笑わらった。

    She laughed as if nothing had happened.

  • 春はるが来きたかのような暖あたたかさだ。

    It's so warm it feels as if spring has arrived.

  • 彼かれはまるで自分じぶんの家いえであるかのように振ふる舞まった。

    He behaved as if it were his own house.

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