如(ごと)き

ごとき
suffix
like; similar to; such as (literary)
formalacademicgrammatical
1. like; similar to; as if
A literary and formal expression meaning 'like' or 'resembling,' used to draw comparisons. Modifies the following noun.
嵐(あらし)の如(ごと)き拍手(はくしゅ)。
Applause like a storm.
光(ひかり)の如(ごと)き速(はや)さで駆(か)け抜(ぬ)けた。
He dashed through at a speed like light.
夢(ゆめ)の如(ごと)き一日(いちにち)だった。
It was a day like a dream.
2. the likes of; someone/something as insignificant as
Used dismissively to belittle someone or something, implying they are unworthy of consideration.
お前(まえ)如(ごと)きに何(なに)が分(わ)かる。
What could the likes of you understand?
素人(しろうと)如(ごと)きに負(ま)けるわけがない。
There's no way I'd lose to a mere amateur.
こんな問題(もんだい)如(ごと)き、簡単(かんたん)に解(と)ける。
A problem like this is easily solved.

Usage

A classical Japanese expression still used in modern literary, dramatic, and formal contexts. Follows the pattern Noun + の如(ごと)き + Noun (sense 1) or Noun + 如(ごと)き (sense 2, dismissive). The adverbial form is 如(ごと)く. Also written as ごとき in hiragana.

Forms

  • 如(ごと)き — attributive (before nouns)
  • 如(ごと)く — adverbial (before verbs)
  • 如(ごと)し — predicative (sentence-ending)

Similar words

  • のような: like — the standard modern equivalent of 如(ごと)き
  • まるで: just like, as if — adds emphasis to comparisons
general
Added 2026.3.22 18:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18579_gotoki