好像 hǎoxiàng — it seems, apparently

Meanings

1. 1

   it seems, apparently

   Marks what you say as an impression rather than a fact — the ordinary way to be tentative in Mandarin. It goes before the verb, not at the end of the sentence.

   adverb
2. 2

   to be like, to resemble

   verb

   With a noun it means plain resemblance — 他好像他爸爸, "he looks like his father." 像 alone does the same work and is more common in that sense.

Character breakdown

• 好

  hǎo (third tone, dipping) hào (fourth tone, falling)

  good, fine, well; easy to do; (hào) to be fond of, to like

  6 strokes⿰女子Radical 女

Example sentences

• 外面好像下雨了。Wàimiàn (fourth tone, falling) hǎoxiàng (third tone, dipping) xià (fourth tone, falling) yǔ (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)···

  It looks as though it has started raining outside.

• 我好像在哪儿见过你。/我好像在哪兒見過你。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) hǎoxiàng (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎr (third tone, dipping) jiànguo (fourth tone, falling) nǐ. (third tone, dipping)···

  I feel as if I have met you somewhere before.

Common mistakes

• Not quite他今天不来好像。

  Correct他今天好像不来。

  好像 is an adverb, so it sits before the verb it softens. English can put "it seems" at either end; Mandarin cannot.

Similar words

Words containing 好

• 好hǎo (third tone, dipping)good, fine, well
• 好好hǎo (third tone, dipping) hǎo (third tone, dipping)well
• 美好měi (third tone, dipping) hǎo (third tone, dipping)beautiful
• 好奇hàoqí (fourth tone, falling)curious, inquisitive
• 最好zuì (fourth tone, falling) hǎo (third tone, dipping)best
• 好多hǎo (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level)many
• 好看hǎo (third tone, dipping) kàn (fourth tone, falling)good-looking
• 好吃hǎochī (third tone, dipping)tasty, delicious
• 好运/好運hǎo (third tone, dipping) yùn (fourth tone, falling)good luck
• 良好liáng (second tone, rising) hǎo (third tone, dipping)good
• 正好zhèng (fourth tone, falling) hǎo (third tone, dipping)just (in time)
• 好处/好處hǎo (third tone, dipping) chu (neutral tone)benefit
• 好事hǎo (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling)good action, deed, thing or work (also sarcastic, "a fine thing indeed")
• 爱好/愛好àihào (fourth tone, falling)hobby, pastime, interest
• 不好意思bù (fourth tone, falling) hǎo (third tone, dipping) yì (fourth tone, falling) si (neutral tone)to feel embarrassed
• 好久hǎo (third tone, dipping) jiǔ (third tone, dipping)quite a while
• 只好zhǐ (third tone, dipping) hǎo (third tone, dipping)without any better option