类似 (lèi sì) — similar, analogous | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

类似 is a neutral 'similar to' (often used in comparative contexts like 和…类似). More formal and analytical than 好似 ('seemingly'); far stronger than 酷似, which means strikingly alike.

verb

similaranalogous

Examples

类似。
Zhè liǎng běn shū de nèi róng hěn lèi sì.
The content of these two books is very similar.
类似。
Tā tí chū le yí gè lèi sì de fāng àn.
He proposed a similar plan.
类似。
Nǐ de wèn tí hé wǒ de wèn tí lèi sì.
Your problem is similar to mine.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

类lèikind

似sìlike

类 and 似 both suggest likeness, forming the sense of being similar.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 類; 类 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犬犬quǎn

Sound part声符shēngfú

頪

頪lèi類lèi

Same sound today

The traditional form 類 pairs 犬, which relates to the meaning, with 頪, which gives the sound. The simplified 类 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 类 →

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

亻以似

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 →

Appears in