酷似 (kù sì) — to strikingly resemble, to be very similar to

Definition

A formal/literary verb for 'to strikingly resemble' — emphasizes near-indistinguishable likeness, stronger than 类似 and 好似.

verb

to strikingly resembleto be very similar to

酷似。
Zhè xiōng dì liǎ cháng dé kù sì.
These two brothers look very much alike.
酷似，。
Zhè jiàn fù zhì pǐn kù sì yuán zuò, jī hū wú fǎ fēn biàn.
This replica is so strikingly similar to the original that it's almost indistinguishable.
酷似。
Tā de shēng yīn kù sì tā de jiě jie.
Her voice closely resembles her elder sister's.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

酷kùextremely

似sìresemble

When something is 似 in a 酷 way, it resembles something very closely.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

酉告酷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

酉酉yǒualcoholic drink vessel

Sound part声符shēngfú

告

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酷 pairs 酉, an alcoholic drink vessel, with 告, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻以似

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénhuman

Sound part声符shēngfú

以

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

似 pairs 亻 (human) with 以, which gives the sound.

Appears in