Japanese word

似通う

Pronunciation

Romajinikayou

Meaning

  • verbclosely resemble

Example

この二つの案は似通っています。ko no futa tsu no an wa ni kayo tte i ma su

These two plans are very similar.

Illustration for 似通う (closely resemble)

More examples

別々に作った作品なのに、色使いが似通っています。betsu betsu ni tsuku tta saku hin na no ni iro zuka i ga ni kayo tte i ma su

Although the works were created separately, their use of color is very similar.

Core concept

Presents a resemblance as a pattern running across several things, not as a single shared detail.

Common phrases

  • 考え方が似通うkanga e kata ga ni kayo u

    have similar ways of thinking

  • 内容が似通っているnai yō ga ni kayo tte i ru

    have similar content

  • 外見が似通うgai ken ga ni kayo u

    have a similar appearance

Similar words

似るniru: Resemble another thing in appearance, character, or other features.
類似するruijisuru: Resemble another thing in important features, form, or nature.
酷似するkokujisuru: Resemble another thing so closely that their appearance or features are nearly the same.

Definition in Japanese

複数のものに共通する特徴が多く、全体として互いによく似ている。fuku sū no mo no ni kyō tsū su ru toku chō ga ō ku zen tai to shi te taga i ni yo ku ni te i ru

Word origin

似通う (nikayō) is a native Japanese compound of 似る (niru, "resemble") and 通う (kayō, "go back and forth"); the compound treats the resemblance as something shared among the subjects.

Usage tips

  • 似通う (nikayō) is useful when multiple things closely resemble one another, while 似ている (nite iru) can describe a resemblance between just two things.

Opposites

Word lists with this word