Chinese word

似乎

Pronunciation

Pinyinsì hū

Meaning

  • adverbapparently

Example

他似乎很累。tā sì hū hěn lèi

He is apparently very tired.

Illustration for 似乎 (apparently)

More examples

天色 似乎 要下雨了。tiān sè sì hū yào xià yǔ le

It looks like it's going to rain.

Core concept

A cautious judgment based on signs, presented as seeming true rather than certain.

Common phrases

  • 似乎 很sì hū hěn

    apparently very

  • 似乎 没有sì hū méi yǒu

    apparently not

  • 似乎 要sì hū yào

    apparently about to

Similar words

好像hǎo xiàng: Casually suggests that something seems true from what can be seen or learned.
看来kàn lái: Concludes from available clues that something appears to be the case.
可能kě néng: Expresses a possibility that something is likely, but not certain.
恐怕kǒng pà: Politely signals an uncertain guess that something will probably happen or be true.

Definition in Chinese

用于根据迹象或经验对情形作出不太确定的推测或判断，多用于书面或较正式的语境，副词。yòng yú gēn jù jì xiàng huò jīng yàn duì qíng xíng zuò chū bú tài què dìng de tuī cè huò pàn duàn duō yòng yú shū miàn huò jiào zhèng shì de yǔ jìng fù cí

Word origin

似乎 (sìhū, "apparently") combines 似 (sì, "resemble") with 乎 (hū, "a modal particle"), forming an expression that presents a judgment as appearance rather than fact.

Usage tips

  • Its careful tone makes it valuable for recognizing when a speaker is leaving room for doubt, while everyday conversation may use a more relaxed alternative for the same general purpose.

Opposites

Word lists with this word