〜ごとく (~gotoku) — like ~ / as ~ (formal written)
The old, stiff form of 「ように」— in reports, speeches, articles and proverbs.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
In a notice from the city office or a company's annual report you meet sentences like 「前述のごとく、本年度の予算は削減された」— 'As stated above, this year's budget was cut.'
Meaning
「ごとく」means exactly the 「ように」you learned at N3, in both senses — 「前に言ったように」(as I said) and 「矢のように速い」(fast like an arrow).
How to attach
- After a noun put 「の」(矢のごとく); after a verb attach it straight to the dictionary form or た-form (以下に示すごとく・すでに述べたごとく).
- Before a noun it becomes 「ごとき」(彼のごとき人物), and 「私ごとき」is a humble way of putting yourself down.
Versus what you know
N3The only difference is the clothes: 「ように」works anywhere, while 「ごとく」is a stiff written word that survived from old Japanese — you hear it in reports, speeches, news articles and proverbs (「光陰矢のごとし」= time flies like an arrow).
Watch out
- The key rule: say 「昨日言ったごとく」to a friend or in a LINE message and it sounds like a line from a stage play — use 「ように」there
- And 「ごとくだ」never ends a sentence.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
以下に示すごとく、申請には三つの書類が必要である。
いかにしめすごとく、しんせいにはみっつのしょるいがひつようである。
As shown below, three documents are required for the application.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 以下 = below → 示す = to show → attach 「ごとく」 straight to the dictionary form = "as shown below" → then the main point of the notice: 書類が必要である (「である」 — written style).
冒頭で述べたごとく、介護の現場では人手不足が深刻だ。
ぼうとうでのべたごとく、かいごのげんばではひとでふそくがしんこくだ。
As mentioned at the start, the labor shortage in care work is serious.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 冒頭 = the opening part → 述べる = to state (written) → た-form: 述べた → we attach 「ごとく」 = "as stated at the start" → then the main point of the article: 人手不足が深刻だ.
日本に来てからの五年間は、矢のごとく過ぎ去った。
にほんにきてからのごねんかんは、やのごとくすぎさった。
My five years since coming to Japan flew by like an arrow.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 矢 = arrow (shot from a bow) → it's an N, so 「の」: 矢の → we attach 「ごとく」 = "like an arrow" → then what it was like: 過ぎ去った = passed by (the feeling comes from the saying 「光陰矢のごとし」).
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「前回の会議で報告した＿＿、売上は回復しつつある。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: After a verb's た-form, and the sentence continues.
Vた + ごとく = 'as ~ed'. 「の」is only needed after a noun; 「ごとき」only goes before a noun; 「ごとし」only ends a proverb.
In which sentence is 「ごとく」unnatural?
💡 Hint: A stiff written word — in a chat with a friend?
ごとく belongs to notices, reports and articles. In a LINE message to a friend say 「昨日言ったように」; 「ごとく」sounds like a stage play.
「彼の＿＿人物が、社長になれるはずがない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: A noun (人物) follows.
Before a noun use 「ごとき」: 彼のごとき人物 = a person like him. 「ごとく」leads into a verb or clause, 「ごとし」ends a sentence, and 「ように」would have to be 「ような」.
Your score: /3