ごとし

Japanese

Alternative spellings
如し 若し

Etymology

Compare Middle Korean ᄀᆞᆮᄒᆞ다 (kothota) > Korean 같다 (gatda, “like; the same”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɡo̞to̞ɕi]

Adjective

ごとし • (gotoshi) ^†-ku

1. (Classical Japanese or literary) like

   風(かぜ)のごとく

   kaze no gotoku

   like the wind

   風(かぜ)のごとく早(はや)し

   kaze no gotoku hayashi

   fast as the wind

   風(かぜ)のごとき人(ひと)

   kaze no gotoki hito

   a person like the wind

   時(とき)は風(かぜ)のごとし

   toki wa kaze no gotoshi

   time is like the wind

Inflection

Classical conjugation of "ごとし" (ク活用, see Appendix:Japanese verbs.)

Stem forms
Irrealis (未然形)			-
Continuative (連用形)	ごとく[1] ごとかり[2]		gotoku gotokari
Terminal (終止形)	ごとし		gotosi
Attributive (連体形)	ごとき ごとかる		gotoki gotokaru
Realis (已然形)			-
Imperative (命令形)			-
Key constructions
Negative	ごとからず		gotokarazu
Contrasting conjunction	ごとけれど		gotokeredo
Causal conjunction	ごとければ		gotokereba
Conditional conjunction	ごとくば		gotokuba
Past tense (firsthand knowledge)	ごとかりき		gotokariki
Past tense (secondhand knowledge)	ごとかりけり		gotokarikeri
Adverbial	ごとく		gotoku
[1]Without auxiliary verb. [2]With auxiliary verb.

Derived terms

• Also see ごとく (gotoku).