At a glance
Noun のごとき / Noun のごとく means "like a ~" or "as if ~". It makes a simile in formal, literary Japanese. ごとき comes before a noun, and ごとく comes before a verb or adjective.
Noun + の + ごとき + Noun
Noun + の + ごとく + Verb / Adjective
彼は風のごとく走った。 He ran like the wind.
How to form it
After a noun, の is required before ごとき / ごとく.
| Form | Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun + のごとき + Noun | Noun, then modifies another noun | 天使のごとき人 | a person like an angel |
| Noun + のごとく + Verb | Noun, then modifies a verb | 鳥のごとく飛ぶ | fly like a bird |
| Noun + のごとく + Adjective | Noun, then modifies an adjective | 氷のごとく冷たい | cold as ice |
| Noun + のごとし | Noun, at the end of a sentence | 光陰矢のごとし | Time flies like an arrow. |
| Verb (plain) + ごとく | Verb | 前に述べたごとく | as stated before |
Register: formal and written. It is used in literature, speeches and formal documents.