How would you say something is like something else?

Question

I know something similar to this has been asked before: Saying something is like/not like something else

I'm just wondering if there's a phrase to express 'like-ness' using senses, for example, "this apple tastes like a banana" or "my socks smells like sweat".

Would you express it as...

• このりんごの味はバナナの味のようです。 This apple's taste is like a banana's taste.

• 靴下の匂いは汗の匂いみたいです。 [My] socks' smell is like the smell of sweat.

I can't help but think this way of expressing it is kind of long-winded...

Thank you very much! :)

Answer 1

このりんごの[味]{あじ}はバナナの味のようです。 This apple's taste is like a banana's taste.

[靴下]{くつした}の[匂]{にお}いは[汗]{あせ}の匂いみたいです。 [My] socks' smell is like the smell of sweat.

Your sentences are indeed long-winded mainly for using 「味」 and 「匂い」 twice, respectively. The sentences are too short and the content too simple to use any word twice with the exception of particles.

The most natural way to shorten those sentences without changing the meaning one bit would be:

「このりんごはバナナのような味がします。」

「靴下は汗みたいな臭いがします。」

The first sentence is now 100% natural and it is just how native speakers would say it.

In the second, I used 「みたい」 only because you used it in yours, but the more natural way to phrase it would be:

「（この/その）靴下は[汗臭]{あせくさ}いです。」

That is we have the common word 汗臭い for "to smell like sweat", so I simply used it.