酷似

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: In 酷似 (こくじ), extreme 酷 and resemblance 似 combine to denote striking similarity.
• Basic usage: 酷似 expresses a striking resemblance between two things.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A strong resemblance, not identity
  • 酷似している presents the resemblance as a state, while 酷似した modifies a similar thing; neither form means complete identity.