宛若 (wǎn rě) — just like, as if (literary conjunction introducing a simile)

Definition

Literary conjunction meaning 'just like / as if', used to open a simile. It sounds formal and written — much rarer in speech than 像.

conjunction
just likeas if (literary conjunction introducing a simile)

Examples

  • 宛若。
    Yuè guāng xià de hú miàn wǎn rě yí miàn jù dà de jìng zi.
    The lake under moonlight is like a huge mirror.
  • 宛若，。
    Tā de gē shēng wǎn rě tiān lài zhī yīn, ràng rén táo zuì.
    Her singing is like the sound of nature, intoxicating.
  • 宛若。
    Zhè zuò gǔ chéng wǎn rě yì fú gǔ lǎo de shuǐ mò huà.
    This ancient city is like an old ink painting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

宛wǎnas if
若ruòlike

宛 and 若 both express likeness, together meaning just 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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
夗
夗wǎn宛wǎn
Same sound today

宛 has 宀, a roof/house shape, with 夗 giving the sound; its early meaning was perhaps linked to a house.

Open 宛 →

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

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

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