TongTong
Sign in

似的 (shì de) — (particle) as if, seems like, rather like

Definition

似的 attaches to a noun or phrase to mean 'like, as if' (e.g. 像孩子似的). Unlike 好像 or 似乎, it is never a standalone predicate — it always follows what it's comparing to.

particle
as ifseems likerather like

Examples

  • 似的。
    Tā xiàng hái zi shì de kāi xīn.
    He is as happy as a child.
  • 似的。
    Zhè duǒ yún xiàng mián huā shì de.
    This cloud looks like cotton.
  • 似的。
    Tā pǎo dé xiàng fēng shì de.
    She runs like the wind.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

似sìlike; resemble
的de

似 means “like/resemble”; with 的 it forms 似的, “as if”.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
以
以yǐ似sì
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.

Open 似 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 52000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.