ように / ような
🃏 Flashcard
ように / ような
you ni / you na
Tap to reveal usage
like; as; similar to
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
you ni / you na
Post ID
50806
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
like; as; similar to
📖 How to use it
Expresses similarity or manner, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.
Attaches to
Attach to the plain present tense of a verb (dictionary form), a noun followed by の, or directly to a な-adjective stem (with な before noun, に before verb/adjective).
You use ように to say that something happens 'as if' or 'in a manner similar to' something else. When it directly modifies a noun, you use ような. For example, you can say 雪のように白い (white like snow) or 夢のような話 (a story like a dream). The image is of a metaphor or comparison; it is not used for saying something is exactly the same, but rather that it resembles or gives the impression of being that way.
彼は鳥のように空を飛べたらいいのに。
Kare wa tori no you ni sora o toberatara ii noni.
I wish he could fly in the sky like a bird.
それは夢のような話ですね。
Sore wa yume no you na hanashi desu ne.
That's a story like a dream, isn't it?
子どもが大人のように話しています。
Kodomo ga otona no you ni hanashite imasu.
The child is speaking like an adult.
Not ように for purpose (e.g., 忘れないようにメモする)
For purpose, ように follows a non-past verb and means 'in order to' or 'so that', often with a volitional or negative verb. For similarity, it compares with a noun or verb, meaning 'like' or 'as'.
Register
Neutral; used in both speech and writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ように / ような
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ように / ような 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 ように / ような. 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 ように / ような mean?
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Like; as; similar to
What JLPT level is ように / ような?
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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 ように / ような in a sentence?
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Attach ように / ような (you ni / you na) 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 ように / ような formal or casual Japanese?
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ように / ような is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ように / ような 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.