似

佀

shì, sì

亻 + 以

Definitions

sì, shì (verb,adjective) to seem; to appear; to resemble; similar; -like

Etymology

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

About

The character 似 is a phonosemantic compound: the left side, 亻 (the "person" radical), indicates the meaning, while the right side, 以, provides the sound. Its central meaning is resemblance or similarity, it conveys the idea of being "like", "similar to", or "as if" something else. It functions mainly in comparisons and often appears in patterns that express appearances or approximations, never straying far from this original comparative sense.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他似乎很忙。

Tā sìhū hěn máng.

He seems very busy.

这花似玫瑰。

Zhè huā sì méiguī.

This flower is like a rose.

她笑得似孩子。

Tā xiào de sì háizi.

She laughs like a child.

天空似蓝色的海洋。

Tiānkōng sì lán sè de hǎiyáng.

The sky is like a blue ocean.

这个问题似乎很难解决。

Zhège wèntí sìhū hěn nán jiějué.

This problem seems very difficult to solve.

他们的观点相似之处很多。

Tāmen de guāndiǎn xiāngsì zhī chù hěn duō.

There are many similarities in their viewpoints.

这种材料似金属但更轻。

Zhè zhǒng cáiliào sì jīnshǔ dàn gèng qīng.

This material is like metal but lighter.

他说话的速度似赛车般飞快。

Tā shuōhuà de sùdù sì sàichē bān fēikuài.

His speaking speed is as fast as a racing car.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 以

似