“〜ka no you ni・ka no you na”: As If 〜 (a simile for what isn't actually so) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

“as if it were a dream” — describing something “just as if it were 〜 (when it actually isn't)”

「何も知らなかったかのように、彼は笑った」 — knowing full well, yet acting as if he didn't

「彼は事情を知っていたのに、何も知らなかったかのように振る舞った」 (though he knew the situation, he behaved as if he knew nothing) — 「〜かのように／かのような」 expresses “as if ～, as though ～”: taking a situation that isn't actually so as a simile. This N2 pattern carries the hypothetical feel of “not actually, just seemingly,” and is rather literary, written. This guide covers its use and attachment, separating it from the plain-resemblance 「ように」.

Core: as if ～ (a simile of something not actually so)

「(verb・i-adj plain form／noun・na-adj ＋ である) ＋ かのように／かのような」 = “as if ～, as though ～” — taking a situation that is not actually so, just ‘looks like it' as a simile:

• 彼女は、初めて聞いたかのように驚いてみせた (she feigned surprise as if hearing it for the first time).
• 真夏なのに、まるで秋が来たかのような涼しさだ (though midsummer, a coolness as if autumn had come).

Feel: “as if … (but not really)” — the core is “using a non-factual situation as a simile,” with the hypothetical “not actually so, just like it” flavor. Often reinforced by 「まるで〜かのように」 (まるで = just like, as if). A literary, written simile.

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• 彼は、まるで自分が主役であるかのように振る舞った。(He behaved as if he were the lead.)
• その絵は、今にも動き出すかのようなリアルさだ。(The painting is realistic as if about to move.)
• 何事もなかったかのように、彼女は仕事を続けた。(As if nothing had happened, she went on working.)
• まるで夢を見ているかのような一日だった。(It was a day as if in a dream.)
• 空は、火事でも起きたかのように真っ赤に染まった。(The sky turned red as if a fire had broken out.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① 「かのように」 carries the hypothetical ‘not actually, just like it,' 「ように」 is more neutral. Both mean “like ～,” but 「かのように」 stresses ‘not actually so, just seemingly' (何も知らないかのように = as if not knowing [but actually knowing], with a “feigning, hypothetical” feel); 「ように」 is more neutral, plainly resemblance or manner (子供のように笑う = laugh like a child, a plain simile). To stress “not actually, yet feigning/appearing like” use かのように; for a plain “like …” use ように. (ように: see 〈ように〉.)

② na-adjectives・nouns add 「である」. Verbs・i-adjectives attach the plain form directly (知っているかのように, 痛いかのように); but na-adjectives and nouns first add 「である」: 本物であるかのように (○ as if real), 静かであるかのように (○). Not directly 「本物かのように」 (△). Don't drop this 「である」.

③ Modifying a noun uses 「かのような」, modifying a verb uses 「かのように」. To modify a following noun, use 「かのような ＋ noun」 (夢を見ているかのような気分 = a mood as if dreaming); to modify a verb (manner), use 「かのように ＋ verb」 (何も知らないかのように振る舞う = behave as if not knowing). Don't mix them (×かのような振る舞う, ×かのように気分).

🔄 Compare with similar forms: かのように／ように／みたいに／そうに

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜かのように／かのような」 = as if ～, as though ～, its core “using a situation that isn't actually so, just ‘looks like it,' as a simile,” with the hypothetical “not actually, just like it” flavor (何も知らないかのように振る舞う = behave as if not knowing; 夢を見ているかのような = as if dreaming). Three points: ① it carries the ‘not actually' hypothetical, unlike the neutral 「ように」 — かのように stresses “not actually, yet feigning/appearing like”; ② na-adjectives・nouns add 「である」 (本物であるかのように); ③ modifying a verb uses かのように, a noun かのような. Often reinforced by 「まるで」. A literary, written simile; to vividly depict “as if … (but not really),” かのように is the most vivid.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: 「かのように」 and 「ように」 both mean ‘like ～' — when do I use 「かのように」?

When you want to stress “not actually so, just (feigning/appearing) as if,” use 「かのように」. 「〜ように」 = like ～ (plainly ‘resemblance, manner,' neutral, not stressing ‘not actually'): 彼は子供のように無邪気だ (he's innocent like a child — a plain simile of his innocence, no deliberate “not actually a child” contrast); 鳥のように空を飛びたい (I want to fly like a bird). It's just “like (the look of) …,” neutral. 「〜かのように」 = as if ～ (stressing ‘not actually so, just as if,' with a hypothetical, contrastive flavor): 彼は何も知らないかのように振る舞った (he behaved as if knowing nothing — but ‘he actually knew,' stressing the “feigning, hypothetical” gap); まるで別世界に来たかのように感じた (I felt as if I'd come to another world — I hadn't, just that feeling). It always carries the implication “not actually, yet like it / feigning it.” Test: plain “like …” (resemblance) → ように; “as if … (but not really)” (hypothetical, contrast) → かのように. So to depict “pretending, as if, as though” similes with a gap from fact, 「かのように」 fits best; for a plain “like …,” 「ように」 suffices. Also, 「かのように」 is more literary, written, and its tone is stronger, more dramatic than 「ように」.

Q: How do I tell 「かのように」 from 「かのような」? What attachment should I watch?

Whether it modifies a verb or a noun, like the 「ように／ような」 difference. 「〜かのように」 = as if ～ (adverbial, modifying a following ‘verb,' marking the manner of an action): 何も知らないかのように、彼は微笑んだ (he smiled as if knowing nothing — 「かのように」 modifies “smiled”); まるで自分の家であるかのようにくつろいでいる (relaxing as if in his own home — modifies “relax”). Before a verb, use 「かのように」. 「〜かのような」 = as if ～ (attributive, modifying a following ‘noun'): 夢を見ているかのような気分 (a ‘mood' as if dreaming — 「かのような」 modifies the noun “mood”); 時が止まったかのような静けさ (a ‘quiet' as if time had stopped — modifies “quiet”). Before a noun, use 「かのような」. Test: before a verb → かのように; before a noun → かのような. Also watch the attachment: verbs・i-adjectives attach the plain form directly (知っている・痛い ＋ かのように), but na-adjectives and nouns add 「である」 (プロであるかのように, 本物であるかのような). So the full rule: the verb/noun distinction decides 「に／な」, and na-adjectives・nouns need 「である」 in front. Master these two and かのように／かのような's attachment won't trip you.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は初めて聞いた___顔をしたが、本当は知っていた。」(pretending as if hearing it for the first time)

(A) かのような　(B) からには　(C) ものの　(D) どころか

Q2. 「かのように」とよく一緒に使うのは?

(A) まるで　(B) もし　(C) ぜひ　(D) たぶん

Q3. 「何も知らないかのように振る舞う」の含意は?

(A) Acting as if knowing nothing (but actually knows)

(B) Really doesn't know

(C) Wants to know

(D) Has forgotten

Q4. 「かのように」と「ように」の違いは?

(A) かのように＝as if ~ (emphasizing it is actually not so); ように＝like ~ (can be real or a comparison)

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) かのように＝truly so

(D) ように＝emphasizes it is not so

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 専門家であるかのように話す。　(B) 専門家かのように話す。

(C) 知るかのように。　(D) 知ってかのような。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) かのような ── Pretending as if hearing it for the first time (but actually knows).

2. (A) まるで ── Often paired with まるで.

3. (A) ── Acting as if not knowing (but actually knows).

4. (A) ── かのように emphasizes that it is actually not so.

5. (A) ── For nouns, use 「である＋かのように」.