The word 类似 is formed by combining two characters whose individual meanings logically converge to create the new concept. The first character, 类 (lèi), means "category" or "kind". The second character, 似 (sì), means "to resemble" or "similar". When placed together, they construct the idea of "resembling a category", essentially conveying that one thing shares enough characteristics with another to be considered of a similar kind, hence the meaning "analogous" or "similar to".