The rentaikei + みたい(な) (mitai na) is one of several ways to say
"similar to" or "seem that". It is often followed
by a form of "de aru" (da / desu).
When combined with a verb, みたい(な) (mitai na) describes an impression
you have. When combined with a noun, みたい(な) describes a resemblance.
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雨が降るみたいです。 (Ame ga furu mitai
desu.)
It appears to be raining.
新しいみたいだ。 (Atarashii mitai
da.)
It seems new.
子供みたいな事をしました。 (Kodomo mitai na
koto wo shimashita.)
He did something childish.
子供みたいに遊んだ。 (Kodomo mitai ni
asonda.)
They played as though they were children. |
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みたい(な) (mitai na) is never placed after だ (da). When using みたい(な),
だ is dropped.
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子供だ。 (Kodomo da.)
They are children.
子供みたいだ。 (Kodomo mitai da.)
They are like children. |
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NOTE: The verb preceding "mitai"
cannot be in the polite form. To make the sentence polite, the main
or closing verb should be in the polite form.
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雨が降りますみたいです。 (Ame ga furimasu
mitai desu.) (incorrect) 日本人だみたいだ。
(Nihonjin da mitai da.) (incorrect) |
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NOTE: みたい (mitai) is a "na-nominal"
or non-conjugated adjective. To find out more about conjugated and
non-conjugated adjectives check the adjectives
page.
NOTE: do not confuse みたい(な) (mitai na),
which means "resembling", with 見たい (mitai), which means
"to want to see".
Related pages:
Rentaikei
+ らしい (rashii)
Rentaikei
+ よう(な) (you na)
Ren'youkei
+ そう (sou)
Dubitative
forms
Adjectives
The particle "な"
(na) |