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如同 (rú tóng) — to be like; to be as

Definition

如同 (rú tóng) is a written/formal 'to be like' for figurative comparisons (a novel is like a mirror). More literary than 像; close to 犹如 but less heavy.

verb
to be liketo be as

Examples

  • 如同。
    Tā men liǎ rú tóng xiōng dì yí yàng yào hǎo.
    The two of them are as close as brothers.
  • 如同，。
    Chūn tiān de fēng rú tóng mǔ qīn de shǒu, wēn nuǎn yòu qīng róu.
    The spring breeze is like a mother's hand, warm and gentle.
  • 如同，。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō rú tóng yí miàn jìng zi, fǎn yìng le shè huì de xiàn shí.
    This novel is like a mirror, reflecting the reality of society.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

如rúlike
同tóngsame

如 and 同 both express similarity, so together they mean 'to be like'.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ如rú
Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

Open 如 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →
Appears in
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