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.
まるで has two distinct uses: drawing vivid comparisons ("just like") and emphasizing completeness ("not at all").
PATTERN 1 — COMPARISON:
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)
- まるで別人のようだ: like a completely different person
PATTERN 2 — TOTAL NEGATION:
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
- まるで役に立たない: completely useless
SIMILAR WORDS:
- まるで: strong resemblance or total negation (conversational to written)
- あたかも: as if (literary/formal, comparison only)
- ちょうど: exactly like (precise match, not figurative)
- まさに: truly, exactly (emphasis without comparison)
Related Words
Synonym:
あたかも (as if (literary))