ような気がする
🃏 Flashcard
ような気がする
you na ki ga suru
Tap to reveal usage
have a feeling that; feels like; seems like
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
you na ki ga suru
Post ID
50987
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
have a feeling that; feels like; seems like
📖 How to use it
Expresses a subjective feeling or intuition that something is the case, often without solid evidence.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of verbs (dictionary form or past tense), the plain form of adjectives, or noun + の. For な-adjectives, use な after the stem.
Use ような気がする when you have a vague feeling or hunch about something. It's softer and more uncertain than と思う (I think). You might use it when you can't quite explain why you feel that way, or when you want to soften a statement. For example, if you sense someone is lying, you say 嘘をついているような気がする (I have a feeling he's lying). The pattern combines よう (like, as if) with 気がする (to have a feeling).
誰かが後ろにいるような気がする。
Dareka ga ushiro ni iru you na ki ga suru.
I have a feeling someone is behind me.
このレストランは高いような気がする。
Kono resutoran wa takai you na ki ga suru.
I feel like this restaurant is expensive.
彼はもう来ないような気がする。
Kare wa mou konai you na ki ga suru.
I have a feeling he's not coming anymore.
Not 気がする (no よう)
気がする alone asserts a feeling more directly (e.g., できる気がする 'I feel I can do it'), while ような気がする adds a nuance of uncertainty or comparison, making it more tentative and often used for things that are not fully confirmed.
Register
Neutral and common in both conversation and writing; safe for most situations, but note it's a personal, subjective expression.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ような気がする
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ような気がする 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 ような気がする. 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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ような気がする mean?
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Have a feeling that; feels like; seems like
What JLPT level is ような気がする?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ような気がする in a sentence?
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Attach ような気がする (you na ki ga suru) 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 ような気がする formal or casual Japanese?
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ような気がする is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ような気がする 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.