Meaning & usage
あたかも presents a situation as though it were true, even when it is unreal or exaggerated, to mean as if. It is an adverb that comes before a clause and must pair with a hypothetical comparison ending such as かのように, かのような, ようだ or かのごとく. It is formal and literary in tone, and it cannot be used for a plain similarity without that as if frame, where まるで is more natural.
Example sentences 4
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彼はあたかも有名な政治家であるかのようにふるまう。
He behaves as if he were a famous statesman.
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彼はあたかもすべてを知っているかのように話す。
He talks as if he knew everything.
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彼女はあたかも幽霊でも見たかのように見えた。
She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
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彼はあたかも病気であったかのような顔つきをしていた。
He looked as if he had been ill.
