さも
as if, looking very
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
さも嬉しそうに笑った。
さもうれしそうにわらった。
He laughed as if he were delighted.
さも当然のように言う。
さもとうぜんのようにいう。
He says it as though it were only natural.
彼はさも自分がやったかのように話した。
かれはさもじぶんがやったかのようにはなした。
He spoke as if he had done it himself.
さも興味深げに、彼女は身を乗り出した。
さもきょうみぶかげに、かのじょはみをのりだした。
Looking thoroughly intrigued, she leaned forward.
Common patterns
- さも〜そうに
- looking very ...
- さも当然のように
- as if it were obvious
- さも〜かのように
- just as though ...
Memory tip
さも needs a 'seeming' ending: 〜そうに, 〜げに, or 〜かのように. It usually implies the appearance is put on, so the speaker is quietly skeptical — unlike あたかも, which is a neutral literary 'as if'.
Quick check
1 / 1Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does さも mean?