像……似的
like …; as if …
Structure
像／跟 + 名词 + 似的
What it means
“Like …; as if …”: compares something with something else. It means the same as 像……一样 but sounds more spoken.
How it is built
像／跟 + thing compared + 似的: 她高兴得像个孩子似的 (she was as happy as a child). 像 can also take a whole phrase: 他像没听见似的 (as if he hadn’t heard).
When to use it
Good for lively everyday description; 像……一样 is more neutral. It often follows 得 to show how much: 都十月了，天气还热得跟夏天似的 (still as hot as summer).
Watch out
Read 似 as shì here (shì de), not sì as in 似乎. Don’t mix the two frames: ✗ 像个孩子一样似的 ✓ 像个孩子似的 or 像个孩子一样.
Examples
她高兴得像个孩子似的。
She was as happy as a child.
都十月了，天气还热得跟夏天似的。
It’s already October, and it’s still as hot as summer.
他像没听见似的，一直在看手机。
He kept looking at his phone as if he hadn’t heard.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 15: 七夕约会 (A Qixi date)
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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