似
KANJI DETAIL
resemble
On readingに7 strokesN2
Radical 人 · personStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 似.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- に
- Kun reading
- にる, にせる
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: The verb
似る, readにる, expresses resemblance in appearance or qualities. - Basic usage: A state of resemblance is often expressed as
似ている; it can compare personalities or methods as well as faces.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- The particle on the comparison target
- In
祖母に似ている,にmarks the grandmother being resembled. - The target of comparison differs from the person or thing that resembles that target.
- In
- Resembling and suiting
似合う, readにあう, means that clothing or another thing suits someone.帽子が君に似合うmeans the hat looks good on you, not that the hat physically resembles you.

