似
Character learning workspace

shì / sì · resembling, similar to

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 似

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

似 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

shì

used in 似的[shi4 de5]

似的shì de · seems as if
sì

to seem; to appear; to resemble

类似lèi sì · similar
Step-by-step explorer

See how 似 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

亻Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 似 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 似

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

shìused in 似的[shi4 de5]
sìto seem; to appear; to resemble
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 似 sits in each complete thought.

Tā xiào de xiàng ge háizi shìde.她笑得像个孩子似的。

She smiled like a child.

Editorial learning example
Nǐ de wèn tí lèi sì yú wǒ de.你的问题类似于我的。

Your problem is similar to mine.

Source: Tatoeba #784489 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yě tīng guò yí gè lèi shìde gù shì.我也听过一个类似的故事。

I also heard a similar story.

Source: Tatoeba #333510 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ de shēng huó sì hū bú shì zhēn shí de.我的生活似乎不是真實的。

My life seems unreal.

Source: Tatoeba #918541 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ de wèn tí hé wǒ de xiāng sì.你的問題和我的相似。

Your problem is similar to mine.

Source: Tatoeba #872441 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nà kàn sì yì wén bù zhí.那看似一文不值。

It seems worthless.

Source: Tatoeba #10362485 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 似 in context

  1. Say shì / sì, then recall the core meaning: resembling, similar to.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 类似 (lèi sì), meaning “similar”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 似 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.