如く
Like, Similar to, As if, The same as
Structure
Noun + の(1) + ごとく
Noun + の(1) + ごとき + Noun
Verb + が(2) + ごとし。
Verb + が(2) + ごとく
Verb + が(2) + ごとき + Noun,
(1)であるが
(2) かの
Explanation
如し is a classical auxiliary verb that functions much like its modern counterpart, よう, meaning 'like' or 'as'. Similar to よう, ごとし (which is usually written in hiragana) expresses a judgment based on how something appears to the speaker. Consequently, ごとし is often translated as 'like (A)', 'similar to (A)', or 'as if (A)'.
While ごとし is the final or predicative form of this auxiliary verb, you will also encounter ごとく (the conjunctive form) and ごとき (the attributive form). Since ごとき is the attributive form, it can directly modify a noun that follows it. In contrast, ごとし typically appears at the end of a sentence. ごとく functions as an adverb to modify verbs or can be used to connect clauses. Let's examine some sentences using each variation.
Much like よう, the variations of ごとし are preceded by の when following a noun, and by が when following a verb.
- ことわざ：「光陰矢の如し。」Proverb: 'Time flies like an arrow.'
- この町は静かすぎて、誰もいないが如し。This town is so quiet, it's as if nobody is here.
- 彼は風の如く走っていった。He ran off like the wind.
- 雪が舞うが如く静かに降り続けている。The snow continues to fall quietly, as if dancing.
- 彼の如き天才でも、間違うことがある。Even a genius like him can be wrong sometimes.
- こんな簡単な失敗ごときで気を落とすな。Don't lose heart over a simple mistake like this.
Because ごとし has an archaic feel, it is mainly found in written Japanese and is not typically used in everyday conversation.
Fun Fact
The character 如 carries the meaning of 'resemblance' or 'likeness'. It describes something that is very similar to (A), but is not actually (A). This kanji appears in a number of standard Japanese words, such as 如何, meaning 'how'.
Examples
その景色は絵画の如し。
That scenery is like a painting.
ナポレオンの如き指導者は滅多に現れない。
A leader like Napoleon rarely appears.
彼女は天使の如く歌う。
She sings like an angel.
SNS時代の今、プライバシーなどあってなきが如しだ。
In this age of social media, something like privacy is virtually nonexistent.
スポーツの実況：「ボールは弾丸の如くゴールに突き刺さった！」
Sports commentary: 'The ball shot into the goal like a bullet!'
歴史小説：「将軍が入室すると、時が止まったが如き静寂が部屋を包んだ。」
Historical novel: 'When the shogun entered, a silence as if time had stopped enveloped the room.'
祖母との思い出は、今でも昨日の如く鮮明に蘇る。
Even now, my memories with my grandmother come back vividly, as if it were yesterday.
卒業スピーチ：「先生はよく『人生は旅の如し』と仰いました。これから私たちも自分だけの旅に出ます。」
Graduation speech: 'Our teacher often said, 'life is like a journey.' From now on, we too will set out on our own journeys.'
彼は休むことなく機械の如く働き続けたが、とうとう体を壊してしまった。
He continued to work without rest like a machine, and his health finally gave out.
専門家が指摘するが如く、その技術は社会に大きな変化をもたらした。
Just as the experts pointed out, that technology brought about a great change in society.
彼女の才能はダイヤモンドの如き輝きを放っていたが、誰にも気づかれなかった。
Her talent had a brilliance like a diamond, but it went unnoticed by everyone.
達人の剣さばきは流れる水の如くしなやかで、誰にも止めることはできなかった。
The master's swordplay was fluid like flowing water, and no one was able to stop it.