Comparing, and metaphores in Japanese.

Emoni

先輩

20 Sep 2003

1,779

67

• 25 Jan 2004

• #1

Something I never learned during my time taking Japanese (so far, will later at the next college) was how to compare items to a likeness. Metaphore or to compare.

For example, Such and such is like falling snow, or drunk like a piggy. (Drunk piggies? Why not? )

Any experts out there who could give me a quick run down? I've checked in a few text books, but looking this up is proving fairly hard sense it isn't a word, but a concept. Long and shortened ways would help me greatly.

 

SacredBlue

先輩

13 Oct 2003

246

1

• 25 Jan 2004

• #2

I'm no expert...But take for example:

Her face is like a shining star
彼女の顔は輝かしい星のよう

When saying something is like something, のよう and のように are often used.

女の子の目は雪のよう
The girl's eyes are like snow
女性の声は鳥のよう
The woman's voice is like a bird

Sorry I was having fun, haha...

 

P

PaulTB

Manga Psychic

22 Jan 2004

2,265

59

• 25 Jan 2004

• #3

Yup ように is definitely one of them. In fact I gave a simalie (<- I can't spell that word) using that in your last thread, emoni.

JG|you

 

Glenn

一切皆苦

8 Jan 2004

7,842

200

• 25 Jan 2004

• #4

Right off hand I could tell you みたい(な), よう(な), and 風に are ways off expressing likeness. For example,
貴様みたいな奴はいやだぜ。(I hate people like you.)
豚のように酔っている (drunk like a pig)
雪風に降っている (falling like snow)

 

Emoni

先輩

20 Sep 2003

1,779

67

• 25 Jan 2004

• Thread starter
• #5

lol, you used the pig example

Thanks guys, going to experiment a bit, never used this before.

 

Buntaro

運動不足

Twenty-year veteran

27 Dec 2003

2,854

2,103

• 26 Jan 2004

• #6

You can also use "hodo":

Namida ga deru hodo ooishikatta desu.

It was so delicious that I could cry.

(I always says this when the waitress asks how good the food was...)

 

Elizabeth

先輩

22 Apr 2003

9,839

135

• 26 Jan 2004

• #7

And mitai(na/ni) is used much the same way as you.

意味は"格好良い"や"おいしい"や"美しい"という ような肯定的ことですが、英語のＣＯＯＬみたいな感じ だと思います。

In the affirmative, I think the meaning (talking about イケるとかイケてるという表現) of good appearance, delicious, and beautiful has the sense of "cool" in English.