At a glance
A のごとき B means "B like A". It describes a noun by comparing it to something it strongly resembles, and it is used in literary or formal writing.
Noun A + の + ごとき + Noun B
鏡のごとき湖が広がっていた。 A mirror-like lake spread out before us.
How to form it
ごとき is the noun-modifying form of the classical word ごとし. Its form depends on what follows:
| Form | Followed by | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun + のごとき | a noun | 風のごとき速さ | speed like the wind |
| Noun + のごとく | a verb or adjective | 風のごとく走る | run like the wind |
| Noun + のごとし | end of sentence | 光陰矢のごとし | time flies like an arrow |
Register: literary and formal writing, speeches. This lesson focuses on のごとき + noun.