1. Overview of Meaning
The kanji “肖” (shō) generally means “to resemble” or “to imitate.” It is often used in contexts where likeness or similarity is emphasized.
2. Formation and Radical
Formation of the Kanji: The kanji “肖” is a phonetic-ideographic character (形声文字), which combines a meaning component and a phonetic component. The left part, “小” (small), suggests a smaller version or likeness, while the right part, “肖,” provides the phonetic sound.
Radical: The radical for “肖” is “小,” which means “small.” This radical often relates to size or diminutiveness in other kanji.
3. Examples of Usage
Common Words and Phrases: Some frequently used words that include “肖” are “肖像” (shōzō), meaning “portrait,” and “肖似” (shōji), meaning “to resemble.”
Example Sentence in Daily Conversation: “彼は父に肖っている。” (Kare wa chichi ni shōtte iru.) translates to “He resembles his father.”
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Kanji: A similar kanji is “似” (ni), which also means “to resemble.” However, “似” is more commonly used in everyday language, while “肖” is often found in more formal or literary contexts.
Antonym: An antonym for “肖” could be “異” (i), which means “different” or “unlike.”
5. Cultural and Historical Background
Relation to Japanese Culture: The concept of resemblance is significant in Japanese culture, especially in art and family lineage. Portraits and likenesses are often valued in traditional art forms.
Proverbs and Idioms: One relevant proverb is “親の背中を見て育つ” (Oya no senaka o mite sodatsu), which means “Children grow up watching their parents,” emphasizing the idea of resemblance and imitation in behavior and traits.