Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 24
As if
〜ような 気が する ・ まるで ・ ふと ・ つい
In this lesson, you will learn to say what something feels like with 〜ような 気が する, to make a comparison stronger with まるで, to say a thought came to you out of nowhere with ふと, and to say you did something without meaning to with つい. The evening after the 学園祭, Sakura tells Lisa her news.
By the end you will be able to say
今も まるで 夢の ような 気が する。Even now, it feels just like a dream.
どこかで 会った ような 気が する。I feel like I've met you somewhere.
ひろの 話し方は まるで 大人みたいだ。Hiro talks just like a grown-up.
ときどき ふと 思うの。Sometimes it just comes to me.
おいしくて、つい 食べすぎて しまった。It was so good I ate too much without meaning to.
The grammar in this lesson
- I feel like…: 〜ような 気が する — Plain form + ような 気が する (or noun + の ような 気が する) says what you feel or sense, without being sure.
- Just like: まるで〜ようだ / みたいだ — まるで makes a comparison stronger: まるで 夢の ようだ (it's just like a dream).
- Out of nowhere: ふと — ふと says a thought, a memory or a glance came suddenly, without your planning it.
- Without meaning to: つい — つい says you did something you didn't intend to, out of habit or temptation, usually with 〜て しまう.