At the N4 level, you learned the basics of「らしい」and「みたい」. At N3, the focus shifts to their derivational forms and pairing techniques. This article systematically covers three powerful ways to express "it looks like" in Japanese.
1. らしい's Dual Identity
「らしい」has two completely different uses. The key is what comes before it.
Suffix (nouns only): Having the qualities of...
When attached to a noun, it means having the typical qualities of that noun:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 男らしい人が好きです。 | I like people who are manly. |
| 春らしい天気になった。 | The weather has become spring-like. |
Auxiliary (no restrictions): Evidence-based inference
Can follow nouns, verbs, or adjectives to express inference based on evidence:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 雨が降るらしい。 | It seems like it will rain. |
| 彼は忙しいらしい。 | He seems to be busy. |
Three Derivational Forms of らしい
This is the N3 focus — in the suffix usage,「らしい」can transform further:
| Form | Function | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| らしくない | Negation | 春らしくない天気が一週間続いていた。 | Un-spring-like weather continued for a week. |
| らしさ | Nominalization | 彼は男らしさに欠けている。 | He lacks manliness. |
| らしく | Adverbialization | 常識なら常識らしく自分の責任を認めなさい。 | If you have common sense, act like it and take responsibility. |
Key point: These three derivational forms only work with the suffix usage. The auxiliary「らしい」cannot be transformed this way.
2. みたい: The Casual Version of ようだ
「みたい」is a more colloquial expression, functionally equivalent to「ようだ」, used for inference and simile.
Inference: Seems like
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ずっと歩いて行けば村に帰れるみたいだ。 | It seems like you can get back to the village if you keep walking. |
| 彼女は怒っているみたいだ。 | She seems to be angry. |
Simile: Just like
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| うしみたいなこのうま。 | This horse that looks just like a cow. |
| 子どもみたいなことを言うな。 | Don't say childish things. |
Connection Rules
| Preceding word | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + みたい | 子どもみたい |
| Verb | Plain form + みたい | 行けるみたい |
| い-adjective | い form + みたい | 寒いみたい |
| な-adjective | Stem + みたい | 静かみたい |
3. まるで: The Amplifier Adverb
「まるで」is an adverb with two distinct uses.
Simile: Just like (paired with ようだ/みたいだ)
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| この一週間はまるで天国にいるようだった。 | This past week was just like being in heaven. |
| まるで夢みたいだ。 | It's just like a dream. |
Total negation: Not at all (paired with negative forms)
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 会話の内容はまるで覚えていない。 | I don't remember the conversation at all. |
| まるで分からない。 | I don't understand at all. |
Memory tip: まるで + ようだ/みたいだ = simile; まるで + negative = total negation. Check the sentence ending to determine which use it is.
Comparison Table
| Expression | Core function | Typical pairing | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| らしい (suffix) | Typical qualities | Noun + らしい | Neutral |
| らしい (auxiliary) | Evidence-based inference | Any word class + らしい | Neutral |
| みたい | Inference / simile | Any word class + みたい | Casual |
| まるで…ようだ | Strong simile | まるで + clause + ようだ | Neutral |
| まるで…ない | Total negation | まるで + negative | Neutral |
Summary
- らしい has a dual identity: suffix (typical qualities) and auxiliary (inference). Only the suffix can derive らしくない/らしさ/らしく
- みたい is a casual inference/simile expression with simple connections
- まるで is an amplifier: paired with ようだ/みたいだ for strong similes, paired with negatives for total negation
- Check the sentence ending to distinguish まるで's two uses
Practice
1. Is「らしい」a suffix or auxiliary in each sentence?
- a. 女らしい人
- b. 明日は雨らしい
Show answer
- a. Suffix (after noun, describes typical feminine qualities)
- b. Auxiliary (inference based on evidence that it will rain tomorrow)
2. Complete the sentences with まるで:
- a. この映画は___夢を見ているようだった。
- b. 彼の話は___分からなかった。
Show answer
- a. この映画はまるで夢を見ているようだった。 → This movie was just like a dream. (simile)
- b. 彼の話はまるで分からなかった。 → I didn't understand what he said at all. (total negation)
3. What does「男らしさがない」mean? Why does「雨らしさ」sound unnatural?
Show answer
- 「男らしさがない」= lacks manliness. 「らしさ」nominalizes the suffix「らしい」.
- 「雨らしさ」sounds unnatural because "rain" doesn't have quantifiable "typical qualities." 「らしさ」only works with nouns that have subjective, character-like traits (man, woman, spring, student, etc.) — weather phenomena don't have "expected characteristics."