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好像 (hǎo xiàng) — it seems; as if; to look like

Definition

The everyday, spoken way to say 'it seems / as if' — works as both a verb (before a clause) and an adverb. 看来 is stronger and judgments after evidence; 似乎/仿佛/似的 are more written or more formal.

it seemsas ifto look like

Examples

  • 好像。
    Tā hǎo xiàng hěn máng.
    He seems busy.
  • 好像。
    Wài miàn hǎo xiàng yào xià yǔ le.
    It seems like it's going to rain outside.
  • 。
    Nǐ hǎo xiàng bú tài gāo xìng.
    You seem not very happy.

Origin

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.

好hǎovery
像xiàngresemble

好像 joins 好 meaning very with 像 meaning resemble, producing the sense of seeming like something.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

好 joins 女 (woman) and 子 (child), understood as a woman with a child, linked to goodness or affection.

Open 好 →

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rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
象
象xiàng像
Same sound today

像 uses 亻, the side form of 人 (person), with 象 giving the sound.

Open 像 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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