さながら

sanagara
/sanagaɾa/
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Just like something else in a vivid comparison.

Examples

  • 彼の語り口はさながら目の前で見てきたかのようだ。
    His account sounded as though he had seen it himself.
  • 豪雨で道はさながら川のようになった。
    In the downpour, the road looked just like a river.
  • 窓の外はさながら白い絵のようだった。
    The view outside the window looked just like a white painting.
  • 会場はさながら祭りのようなにぎわいだった。
    The venue was bustling just like a festival.
  • 町の広場はさながら野外劇場と化した。
    The town square became just like an outdoor theatre.

Similar words

まるっきり
あたかも
まるで

Meanings

As though it were

adverb
comparison
literary
So closely resembling something else that the comparison feels almost real.

Examples

  • 会場はさながら祭りのようなにぎわいだった。
    The venue was bustling just like a festival.
  • 窓の外はさながら白い絵のようだった。
    The view outside the window looked just like a white painting.
  • 彼の語り口はさながら目の前で見てきたかのようだ。
    His account sounded as though he had seen it himself.
  • 町の広場はさながら野外劇場と化した。
    The town square became just like an outdoor theatre.
  • 豪雨で道はさながら川のようになった。
    In the downpour, the road looked just like a river.

Similar words

Etymology

The dictionary analyzes it as the adverb さ plus the particle ながら.

FAQ

What does さながら mean?

Just like something else in a vivid comparison.

How do you read さながら?

It is read さながら, written sanagara.

When would you use さながら?

A literary or formal comparison used to make a scene vivid; older unrelated uses are not current.

How is さながら different from まるで?

まるで is the ordinary comparison word; this sounds more literary and descriptive.

How does さながら change in a sentence?

An invariable adverb, often followed by 「〜のよう」 or a noun used as a comparison.

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