まるで
まるで
adverb
just like, as if, completely
1.
just like, as if
Used to draw a comparison, typically followed by ようだ/みたいだ.
まるで夢のようだ。
It's just like a dream.
彼はまるで子供みたいに泣いた。
He cried just like a child.
この町はまるで外国のようだ。
This town looks just like a foreign country.
2.
completely, entirely
Used with negative expressions to mean 'not at all'.
まるで分からない。
I don't understand at all.
With negative = completely/not at all
まるで違う。
It's completely different.
説明を聞いたが、まるで理解できなかった。
I listened to the explanation, but I couldn't understand it at all.
USAGE PATTERNS:
1. まるで〜ようだ/みたいだ (just like ~)
- まるで夢のようだ (just like a dream)
- まるで嘘みたいだ (it's like a lie - unbelievable)
2. まるで〜ない (not at all, completely not)
- まるで分からない (don't understand at all)
- まるで違う (completely different)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- まるで - emphasizes strong resemblance or total negation
- ちょうど - exactly like
- あたかも - as if (more literary)