好比 / 犹如
A is just like B: simile words by register
Structure
A 好比／犹如／如同／仿佛 B
What it means
Simile words: A is just like B. They differ mainly by register, from chatty, explanatory 好比 to literary 犹如.
How it is built
A + 好比／犹如／如同／仿佛 + B, often with a clause that explains the likeness: 读书好比爬山，越往上越累 (study is like climbing a hill: the higher you go, the more tiring).
When to use it
好比 is spoken and explanatory, good for making a point clear; 像 and 好像 are neutral; 如同, 犹如 and 宛如 are literary. 仿佛 also means 'seemingly'.
Watch out
These paint a picture; for literal sameness use 跟…一样. Match the register: 犹如 or 宛如 in a chat sounds stiff, while 好比 suits explaining a point.
Examples
这类说法犹如菜里的盐，放一点儿，味道就出来了。
Such sayings are like salt in a dish: add a little and the flavour comes out.
读书好比爬山，越往上越累，看得也越远。
Study is like climbing a hill: the higher you go the more tiring it is, and the further you see.
Learn this in Lesson 211 · HSK 9+: 俗语、谚语与歇后语 (Sayings, proverbs and two-part riddles)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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