Definition
似曾相识 (sì céng xiāng shí) is a set phrase meaning 'to feel a sense of déjà vu' — the feeling that a person, place, or situation is strangely familiar, as if you've encountered it before. It's used as a predicate or attributive (e.g., 似曾相识的感觉). Unlike the English 'déjà vu,' it can also describe a person who seems familiar even if you haven't met.
phrase
to feel a sense of déjà vuto seem familiar (as if previously encountered)
Examples
- 似曾相识，。Wǒ dì yī cì jiàn dào tā jiù jué de sì céng xiāng shí, hǎoxiàng zài nǎlǐ jiàn guo.The first time I met her, I had a sense of déjà vu, as if I had seen her somewhere before.
- 似曾相识。Zhè zhǒng sì céng xiāng shí de gǎnjué ràng wǒ xīnli hěn bù'ān.This feeling of déjà vu makes me uneasy.
- ，似曾相识。Zǒu jìn nàge lǎo fángzi, wǒ dùnshí gǎndào wúbǐ sì céng xiāng shí.Walking into that old house, I instantly felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.