似乎
it seems; apparently (a guess from what you see)
Structure
主语 似乎 动词／形容词 …
What it means
“It seems, apparently”: the speaker is not sure and judges by appearances. A more written 好像.
How it is built
Subject + 似乎 + verb/adjective: 他今天似乎不太高兴 (he seems a bit down today). Often softened further: 似乎有点儿, 似乎不太. 天阴得厉害，似乎要下雨了.
When to use it
More written than 好像, which is the normal word in speech. It is only an adverb, so it goes before the verb or adjective: 他似乎病了.
Watch out
Unlike 好像 and 像, it cannot mean “to look like someone”: ✗ 他似乎他爸爸。 ✓ 他很像他爸爸。
Examples
从地图上看，目的地似乎就在前面一百米。
On the map, the destination seems to be just a hundred metres ahead.
他今天似乎不太高兴，一句话也没说。
He seems a bit down today; he hasn’t said a word.
天阴得厉害，似乎要下雨了。
The sky has turned very dark; it looks like rain.
Learn this in Lesson 21 · HSK 5: 山城重庆 (Chongqing, the mountain city)
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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