ごとし
ごとし
expression
like; as if; as though
formal
1.
like; as if; as though; resembling
A literary or classical expression meaning 'like' or 'as if,' used to draw comparisons. More formal and literary than ようだ or みたいだ.
A classical Japanese expression derived from the literary language. Still commonly encountered in proverbs, set phrases, and formal or poetic writing. The adverbial form ごとく ("like," modifying a verb) is more frequent in modern usage than the terminal form ごとし.
Common patterns
Famous proverbs
Similar words
- ようだ: the standard modern equivalent; neutral in register
- みたいだ: colloquial equivalent
- ごとし is much more literary and formal than both; used primarily in writing, proverbs, and rhetoric
Register
Literary and formal. Rarely used in casual conversation except in fixed expressions. Common in literature, speeches, and classical quotations.