zoeng6像

Jyutpingzoeng6

Yalejeuhng

動詞Very common

Definition

To resemble, look like, or seem as if.

to resemble; to look like; to be similar to
to seem; to look as if

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 似 instead of 像 in spoken contexts. While 像 is understood, it sounds distinctly literary or like a direct translation from Mandarin. Use 似 for both physical resemblance and the sense of seeming or appearing to be something.

Common phrases

hou2好ci5似

to seem like

ci5似joeng2樣

decent or presentable

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 像 because of its prevalence in Mandarin, but using it in casual speech will make you sound like you are reading from a textbook. Stick to 似 for all natural conversation.