JLPT N1 grammar

〜ごとく／ごときmeaning and usage

Meaning

Like A; as if A

How to form it

  • nounのごとく/ごとき/ごとし
  • verb (dictionary form)/verb (ta-form)（が）ごとく/ごとき
  • verb (plain form)かのごとく
  • nounごときが/に/を

How it is used

Literary 「ように／ような」: 「ごとく」 modifies verbs, 「ごとき」 nouns, and 「ごとし」 ends a sentence. Straight after a noun, 「ごとき」 means 'the likes of', humbly about oneself (「私ごとき」) or dismissively about others.

Examples

  1. 彼のごとき男は今後二度と現れないだろう。

    A man like him will probably never appear again.

  2. 彼は何事もなかったかのごとく、平然と話し続けた。

    He carried on talking calmly, as if nothing had happened.

  3. 私ごときがこのような賞をいただき、恐縮しております。

    I'm truly humbled that someone like me should receive such an award.