肖

xiāo, xiào

⺌ + 月

Definitions

xiào (verb) to resemble; to be like; to be similar to

xiào (verb) follow the example of

xiāo (noun) surname

Etymology

Depicts the moon (月) getting smaller (小) and disappearing as part of the lunar cycle. Based on the original meaning "decrease, disappear", now written as 消. The meaning later shifted to "resemble; similar".

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: ⺌

About

The character 肖 is composed of 小 (small) written above 月 (moon). Together, they depict the moon shrinking and vanishing during the lunar cycle. Its earliest meaning was "decrease" or "disappear", now represented by the character 消. Over time, 肖 shifted to mean "resemble" or "be similar". In modern usage, it describes a close similarity in appearance, personality, or behavior, particularly the resemblance of a child to a parent. Additionally, 肖 is a common phonetic component in compound characters and also functions as a surname.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一幅美丽的肖像。

Zhè shì yī fú měilì de xiàoxiàng.

This is a beautiful portrait.

我的生肖是龙。

Wǒ de shēngxiào shì lóng.

My Chinese zodiac sign is the dragon.

他被称为不肖之子。

Tā bèi chēng wéi bùxiào zhī zǐ.

He is called an unworthy son.

她长得肖似她的母亲。

Tā zhǎng de xiàosì tā de mǔqīn.

She looks very similar to her mother.

肖先生是我们学校的老师。

Xiāo xiānsheng shì wǒmen xuéxiào de lǎoshī.

Mr. Xiao is a teacher at our school.

画家正在创作一幅肖像画。

Huàjiā zhèngzài chuàngzuò yī fú xiàoxiànghuà.

The painter is in the process of creating a portrait.

虽然他不肖，但父母仍然爱他。

Suīrán tā bùxiào, dàn fùmǔ réngrán ài tā.

Although he is unworthy, his parents still love him.

这幅肖像画逼真地肖似本人的神态。

Zhè fú xiàoxiànghuà bīzhēn de xiàosì běnrén de shéntài.

This portrait vividly resembles the subject's expression.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: ⺌

Component: 月

肖