English–Japanese
“as if” in Japanese
How to say “as if” in Japanese
“As if” in Japanese is さも (samo).
Marks an appearance or manner that strongly suggests a state is real without confirming that it is actually true.
Example sentences with さも
彼はさも自分のことのように、友人の成功を喜びます。kare wa sa mo ji bun no ko to no yō ni yū jin no sei kō o yoroko bi ma su
He celebrates his friend's success as if it were his own.
Tips for using さも
- Unlike a plain statement of fact, さも (samo) commonly frames an outward appearance, so context determines whether the claim is literal or merely assumed.
Other Japanese words for “as if”
彼女はまるで先生のように話します。kano jo wa ma ru de sen sei no yō ni hana shi ma su
She talks as if she were a teacher.
彼はあたかも何も知らないかのように話します。kare wa a ta ka mo nan mo shi ra na i ka no yō ni hana shi ma su
He speaks as if he knows nothing.