像 xiàng — to look like, to resemble
xiàng (fourth tone, falling)xiang4
to look like, to resemble
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardverb
Meanings
to look like, to resemble
A verb in its own right, so it needs no 是: 他很像他爸爸. Where 一样 says two things are the same in some measured respect, 像 says one calls the other to mind.
verbsuch as, like (introducing an example)
verb
Example sentences
- 他长得很像他爸爸。他長得很像他爸爸。Tā (first tone, high and level) zhǎng (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) xiàng (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) bàba. (fourth tone, falling)···
He looks a lot like his father.
- 这个地方像我以前住的城市。這個地方像我以前住的城市。Zhège (fourth tone, falling) dìfang (fourth tone, falling) xiàng (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) yǐqián (third tone, dipping) zhù (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) chéngshì. (second tone, rising)···
This place is like the city I used to live in.
Common mistakes
Not quite他是像他爸爸。
Correct他很像他爸爸。
像 is the verb of the sentence, so 是 has nothing to do. The same trap catches 有, 在 and every adjective used as a predicate: Chinese needs one verb, not two.