像

xiàng

亻 + 象

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

xiàng (verb) to resemble; to be like; to look like

xiàng (noun) appearance; image; portrait

xiàng (particle) such as

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 象 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 象

About

The character 像 is a phono-semantic compound composed of the radical 亻 (person) on the left, suggesting a link to people or human actions, and the component 象 (elephant) on the right, which functions as the phonetic. Its original meaning was physical likenesses, such as statues or portraits of human figures. From there, it came to express the broader concept of resemblance, visual similarity, imitation, or any mental or physical representation, and it is frequently used as a verb meaning 'to resemble' or 'to look like' something else.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他长得像我哥哥。

Tā zhǎng de xiàng wǒ gēge.

He looks like my older brother.

今天好像要下雨。

Jīntiān hǎoxiàng yào xià yǔ.

It seems like it's going to rain today.

这张图像很清晰。

Zhè zhāng túxiàng hěn qīngxī.

This image is very clear.

她的笑容像阳光一样温暖。

Tā de xiàoróng xiàng yángguāng yīyàng wēnnuǎn.

Her smile is as warm as sunlight.

人生像一场旅行。

Rénshēng xiàng yī chǎng lǚxíng.

Life is like a journey.

他说话的声音像他父亲，但性格不像。

Tā shuōhuà de shēngyīn xiàng tā fùqīn, dàn xìnggé bù xiàng.

His voice sounds like his father's, but his personality does not.

这幅画像真的一样，让我惊叹。

Zhè fú huà xiàng zhēn de yīyàng, ràng wǒ jīngtàn.

This painting looks so real that it amazes me.

在显微镜下，细胞的结构像精心设计的机器。

Zài xiǎnwēijìng xià, xìbāo de jiégòu xiàng jīngxīn shèjì de jīqì.

Under the microscope, the structure of cells resembles a meticulously designed machine.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 象

像