JLPT N3 grammar

まるで〜ようmeaning and usage

Meaning

(It is almost) As if A

How to form it

  • まるでverb (plain form)/い-adjectiveようだ
  • まるでな-adjective (stem)なようだ
  • まるでnounのようだ
  • まるでnounのようなnoun/のようにverb

How it is used

'Just as if A, exactly like A': a simile stressing that something closely resembles what it isn't. Casual speech often uses 「まるで〜みたい」. 「まるで」 makes clear that 「ようだ」 is a comparison, not a guess.

Examples

  1. 綿菓子はまるで雲のようにふわふわだ。

    The cotton candy is fluffy, almost as if it's a cloud.

  2. 今日は暖かくて、まるで春のようだ。

    It's so warm today, it's just like spring.

  3. 彼女は、まるで日本人のように日本語を話す。

    She speaks Japanese just like a native.