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JLPT N3 · Guessing & hearsay

ような気（き）がする (you na ki ga suru)

～ような気がする — “I have a feeling that ～”

In short · Expresses a vague feeling or hunch that you cannot fully support: “I feel as if ～.” It attaches to the plain form of a verb or adjective (な-adj + な, noun + の). It softens a statement and is common in speech.
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Pattern

  • 普通形＋ような気がする I feel as though ～
  • 普通形＋気がする shorter form: I have a feeling ～

A hunch without proof

The speaker does not say “it is so,” only “I feel it is so.” どこかで彼に会ったような気がする: I can’t remember, but it feels like we met. 気 means “feeling”.

Past, present, future

The form before ような shows the content: ta-form for a vague memory (聞いたような気がする), dictionary form for a premonition (起こるような気がする), and ている form for the present.

Difference from ～と思う

～と思う states a thought or opinion. ～ような気がする is more of an intuitive, uncertain feeling and sounds softer. For a firm judgment, use ～と思う or ～に違いない.

Examples

  • どこかで彼（かれ）に会（あ）ったような気（き）がする。

    Dokoka de kare ni atta you na ki ga suru.

    I have a feeling I’ve met him somewhere.

  • 今夜（こんや）は何（なに）かいいことが起（お）こるような気（き）がする。

    Konya wa nani ka ii koto ga okoru you na ki ga suru.

    I have a feeling something good will happen tonight.

  • この曲（きょく）は、前（まえ）にも聞（き）いたような気（き）がする。

    Kono kyoku wa, mae ni mo kiita you na ki ga suru.

    I have a feeling I’ve heard this song somewhere before.

Common mistakes

  • It is a subjective feeling, so the subject is normally the speaker (気がする, not 気がします for someone else).
  • Do not use it for facts you are sure of. It signals uncertainty.

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