Likening things with 〜みたい

Grammar: Appearance

2019年02月23日

2026年06月23日

〜みたい attaches to a word to say something gives the impression of (or resembles) something else.

Meaning

Think of みたい as saying “this reminds me of that”. The speaker uses one thing as a reference point to describe another, rather than stating an exact equivalence. As the speaker is expressing an impression, the comparison does not need to be realistic, not is it literally true.

あの雲(くも)は魚(さかな)みたいだ。 That cloud looks like a fish. (shape/appearance)
夢(ゆめ)みたいな話(はなし)だね。 That’s a dream-like story. (unrealistic/wonderful)
子供(こども)みたいに泣(な)かないで。 Don’t cry like a child. (behavior/manner)

The word before みたい is the model being compared something to. In 魚(さかな)みたい, the fish is not the thing being described. The fish is the image used to describe something else.

In casual speech, people often leave off だ at the end: 夢(ゆめ)みたい. In polite speech, みたいです is used.

Formation

The comparison word comes immediately before みたい, and it works after nouns, verbs, adjectives, and even whole clauses. The particle appended to みたい changes depending on what follows.

comparison + みたいだ (or です)
- この部屋(へや)はホテルみたいだ
- "This room is like a hotel."
- Note: In casual speech, だ is often dropped.
comparison + みたいな + noun
- ホテルみたいな部屋(へや)
- "a room like a hotel"
comparison + みたいに + verb
- 先生(せんせい)みたいに話(はな)す
- "speak like a teacher"
comparison + みたいに + adjective
- ライオンみたいに強(つよ)い
- "strong like a lion"

Types of Comparison

1. Appearance (Looks Like)

あの雲(くも)、うさぎみたい！ That cloud looks like a rabbit!

The cloud is being compared with a rabbit because of its shape.

2. Behavior (Manner)

子供(こども)みたいに走(はし)り回(まわ)っている。 They’re running around like kids.

The people are not children. Their behavior is childlike.

3. Atmosphere (Feeling)

このカフェ、森(もり)みたいだね。 This cafe is like a forest, isn't it?

The cafe is not a forest, but has features that vaguely captures aspects of a forest, as such many plants, dim lighting, or wood tones.

A Different Use of みたい

This page explains the comparison use of みたい.

みたい can also be used to express an impression or guess:

雨(あめ)が降(ふ)るみたい。 It looks like it’s going to rain.
彼(かれ)は来(こ)ないみたいだ。 It seems he isn’t coming.

In these cases, みたい does not compare one thing to another. It expresses the speaker’s impression or conclusion.

ようだ / ような / ように
- Similar but often more formal or literary.
〜っぽい
- “-ish” (more casual/slangy, often negative or approximate).
〜らしい
- Hearsay or typical of ~.

Examples

Want to submit a manga example for this grammar?

A little sister like Chino with 〜みたい

Manga panel from ご注文はうさぎですか？ showing example of Likening things with 〜みたい. — ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 88

During a group study session, Chino finds Syaro a much better teacher than Cocoa.

speaker:: 「チノちゃんみたいな妹(いもうと)がいたら毎日(まいにち)だって教(おし)えるのに」; “If I had a little sister like Chino, I'd teach her (homework material) every day.”; Literal: “If I had a little sister like Chino, I would teach her even every day.”

Cute latte art like yours with 〜みたい

Recalling the latte art Cocoa made in coffee for her, Chiya tries making the same in the tea she brings to her friends.

千夜(ちや):: 「ココアちゃんたちみたいにかわいいのは描(か)けないんだけど」; “I can't draw cute (latte art) like you all, though.”; Literal: “I can't draw something cute like Cocoa and the others, though.”

Menu items like secret attacks from a comic with 〜みたい

Looking over the menu at Chiya’s shop, Chino and Rize are mystified by the strange dessert names.

○:: 「なんだこの漫画(まんが)の必殺技(ひっさつわざ)みたいなメニューは…」; “What's with this menu like special techniques from a comic?”; Literal: “What is this menu like a manga special attack...”