みたいに
🃏 Flashcard
みたいに
mitai ni
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like, similar to
N4
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
mitai ni
Post ID
50727
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
like, similar to
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something is like or similar to something else, used adverbially before a verb or adjective.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary form of verbs, the plain past form of verbs, the stem of な-adjectives, or the noun form directly (no の). For な-adjectives, use the stem (e.g., 静かみたいに). For nouns, attach directly (e.g., 子どもみたいに).
みたいに is the adverbial form of みたいだ, used to say that an action or state is similar to something. It comes before a verb or adjective, like an adverb. For example, 犬みたいに走る means 'run like a dog.' You can also use it with adjectives: 氷みたいに冷たい means 'as cold as ice.'
彼は鳥みたいに空を飛びたいと言った。
Kare wa tori mitai ni sora o tobitai to itta.
He said he wants to fly in the sky like a bird.
このケーキはスポンジみたいに柔らかい。
Kono keeki wa suponge mitai ni yawarakai.
This cake is as soft as a sponge.
子どもみたいに泣かないでください。
Kodomo mitai ni nakanaide kudasai.
Please don't cry like a child.
Not のように
みたいに is casual and used in speech; のように is more formal and used in writing or polite speech. Both mean 'like' and attach to nouns, but のように is a bit more detached.
Register
This is casual and common in everyday conversation. In formal writing, you might use のように instead.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
みたいに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat みたいに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using みたいに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern みたいに mean?
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Like, similar to
What JLPT level is みたいに?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use みたいに in a sentence?
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Attach みたいに (mitai ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is みたいに formal or casual Japanese?
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みたいに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember みたいに long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.