HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
似乎, 仿佛, …似的: seem, as if
似乎 = seems (formal 好像); 仿佛 = as if; 像…似的 = like….
Structure
- Subject + 似乎 + …
- 仿佛 + comparison
- 像 / 好像 + noun / clause + 似的
How it works
似乎 is a more formal 好像: 他似乎不太高兴.
仿佛 makes a vivid comparison, often in writing: 时间仿佛停了下来.
像…似的 compares: 他高兴得像个孩子似的.
Examples
-
他似乎有什么心事。
He seems to have something on his mind.
-
问题似乎没有那么简单。
The problem doesn’t seem so simple.
-
那一刻，时间仿佛停住了。
In that moment, time seemed to stop.
-
他高兴得像个孩子似的。
He was as happy as a child.
-
她跑得飞快，像风似的。
She ran like the wind.
Words in these examples (29)
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 似乎 | sìhū | it seems; seemingly; as if | HSK 5 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 什么 | shénme | what | HSK 1 |
| 心 | xīn | heart; mind | HSK 4 |
| 事 | shì | matter; thing (to do) | HSK 1 |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem | HSK 1 |
| 没有 | méiyǒu | not have; there isn't; did not | HSK 1 |
| 那么 | nàme | so; like that; then | HSK 2 |
| 简单 | jiǎndān | simple | HSK 3 |
| 那 | nà | that; then | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 刻 | kè | quarter (of an hour) | HSK 3 |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | HSK 1 |
| 仿佛 | fǎngfú | to seem; as if; seemingly; alike; similar | HSK 5 |
| 停 | tíng | to stop; to park | HSK 4 |
| 住 | zhù | to live (somewhere); to stay | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | HSK 1 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 像 | xiàng | to look like; like | HSK 3 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 似的 | shìde | seems as if; rather like | HSK 5 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 跑 | pǎo | to run | HSK 2 |
| 飞 | fēi | to fly | HSK 2 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 风 | fēng | wind | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗似乎他不高兴。
✓他似乎不高兴。
似乎 normally follows the subject.
-
✗他像个孩子似。
✓他像个孩子似的。
The form is 似的.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他今天 很累，一直不说话。
2. 她笑得像花儿 。
3. 站在山顶，我 看到了整个城市。