Use みたい for an impression based on clues or to say that something resembles something else.
The idea
Attach みたい directly to nouns and な-adjectives without だ, and to plain verbs and い-adjectives. Use みたいです for a polite ending; noun + みたいに modifies an action.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| 名詞 | 先生みたいです |
| な形容詞 | 静かみたいです |
| い形容詞 | 甘いみたいです |
| 動詞 | 降るみたいです |
| 名詞＋みたいに | 母みたいに歌います |
Examples
- 雲が多いです。雨が降るみたいです。There are many clouds. It looks like it will rain.
- 田中さんは今日来ないみたいです。It seems Tanaka is not coming today.
- このケーキは甘いみたいです。This cake seems sweet.
- あの店は静かみたいです。That shop seems quiet.
- あの人は先生みたいです。That person seems to be a teacher.
- 妹は母みたいに歌います。My younger sister sings like our mother.
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Watch out
みたい is conversational. Unlike hearsay そうです, it presents the speaker’s impression, not simply a report of a source. Do not insert だ after 先生 or 静か.
Try it yourself
「先生」→ ＿＿みたいです。
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先生
先生 — A noun attaches directly to みたい.
「静か」→ ＿＿みたいです。
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静か
静か — Drop だ after an affirmative な-adjective.
「降ります」→ ＿＿みたいです。
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降る
降る — Use the plain verb before みたい, not 降ります.
母＿＿歌います。
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みたいに
みたいに — This form modifies the action 歌います.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「先生」→ ＿＿みたいです。
「静か」→ ＿＿みたいです。
「降ります」→ ＿＿みたいです。
母＿＿歌います。
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a person who resembles someone, then infer tomorrow’s weather from a clue.