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似乎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
似乎
sìhū
apparently
HSK 5, d, 11 strokes, rank #962, Hard
似乎
sìhū
to seem
HSK 5, d, 11 strokes, rank #962, Hard
似乎
sìhū
to appear
HSK 5, d, 11 strokes, rank #962, Hard
似乎
sìhū
as if
HSK 5, d, 11 strokes, rank #962, Hard
似乎
sìhū
seemingly
HSK 5, d, 11 strokes, rank #962, Hard
sìhū(si4hu1)si hu T4
1apparently
2to seem
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March 24, 2026
似乎sìhū(si4hu1)
似乎 (sì hū) means 'apparently' or 'to seem,' often used to express a perception or opinion that may not be certain. It is commonly used in conversational Mandarin to indicate an impression or assumption based on observed circumstances.
Strokes11Frequency#962DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, expressing uncertainty can be a way to show humility and avoid making definitive statements. Using 似乎 reflects a nuanced approach to communication, where one acknowledges the possibility of different perspectives.
Memory tip
Think of 似 (sì) as resembling something, and 乎 (hū) as a sound that indicates uncertainty, like a questioning tone. Imagine a detective observing a scene, saying 'It seems like...,' as they piecemeal together clues. This visual connects the pronunciation with its meaning.
Meanings of 似乎
sìhū(si4hu1)
1apparently
2to seem
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 似乎
似乎Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#962Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 似乎
Podcast: 似乎
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AI study notes for 似乎
Quick Contrast
好像 (hǎo xiàng) - use 似乎 when expressing a more tentative or less certain impression compared to 好像, which suggests a slightly stronger assumption.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 似乎 with similar phrases like 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái), which means 'it looks like.' 似乎 is more about perception rather than direct observation. It is typically used in informal contexts but can also appear in formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 似乎 connects with other words that express opinion or perception, such as 感觉 (gǎn jué, to feel) or 认为 (rèn wéi, to think). Focus on practicing how to use it in sentences expressing uncertainty or assumptions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 似乎 with 似的 (sì de), which means 'similar to.' For example, saying '这似乎的天气' (Zhè sì hū de tiān qì) instead of '这天气似乎很热' (Zhè tiān qì sì hū hěn rè) is incorrect. Remember that 似乎 describes a perception rather than a similarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 似乎
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似乎 (sì hū) means 'apparently' or 'to seem,' often used to express a perception or opinion that may not be certain. It is commonly used in conversational Mandarin to indicate an impression or assumption based on observed circumstances.
When to use 似乎
Be careful not to confuse 似乎 with similar phrases like 看起来 (kàn qǐ lái), which means 'it looks like.' 似乎 is more about perception rather than direct observation. It is typically used in informal contexts but can also appear in formal writing.
似乎 or something close to it
好像 (hǎo xiàng) - use 似乎 when expressing a more tentative or less certain impression compared to 好像, which suggests a slightly stronger assumption.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 似乎 with 似的 (sì de), which means 'similar to.' For example, saying '这似乎的天气' (Zhè sì hū de tiān qì) instead of '这天气似乎很热' (Zhè tiān qì sì hū hěn rè) is incorrect. Remember that 似乎 describes a perception rather than a similarity.
Write 似乎
似
乎
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Grammar patterns of 似乎
似乎 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
