1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “似” (pronounced “ni” or “shi”) means “to resemble” or “to be similar to.” It is used to express likeness or similarity between objects, people, or concepts.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “似” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字). It combines the semantic component “亻” (which relates to people) and the phonetic component “寺” (which provides the pronunciation).
Radical: The radical of “似” is “亻,” which is associated with human-related actions or characteristics.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases: Some frequently used words that include “似” are:
- 似ている (にている, niteiru) – to resemble
- 似顔絵 (にがおえ, nigaoe) – portrait
Example Sentences in Daily Conversation:
- 彼は父に似ている。 (かれはちちににている。) – He resembles his father.
- この絵は本物に似ている。 (このえはほんものににている。) – This painting looks similar to the real thing.
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji: A kanji with a similar meaning is “類” (るい, rui), which means “kind” or “type.” While both kanji express similarity, “似” focuses more on resemblance, whereas “類” emphasizes categorization.
Antonyms: A kanji with an opposite meaning is “異” (い, i), which means “different” or “unlike.” This kanji is used to indicate dissimilarity.
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: The concept of resemblance is significant in Japanese culture, where harmony and similarity are often valued in social interactions and aesthetics.
Proverbs and Idioms: An example of a related idiom is “似たり寄ったり” (にたりよったり, nitari yottari), which means “similar” or “almost the same,” often used to describe two things that are not significantly different from each other.