How to say "imitate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- godan verb, intransitive verbCovers imitating in the sense of following or emulating someone as a model, often through observation and practice, such as learning a skill or behavior by copying a teacher or senior. Usually written in kana alone.
- 見習うみならうgodan verb, transitive verbMeans to imitate or pattern oneself on someone's example, typically by watching them and trying to become like them, as when a junior employee follows a respected senior's way of working.シュヴァイツァーは見習うべき人間です。↗Schweitzer is a man to imitate.
- 真似るまねるichidan verb, transitive verbThe core word for imitating in the direct sense: mimicking another person's actions, speech, or mannerisms, often quite literally and sometimes playfully or critically.
- 似せるにせるichidan verb, transitive verbUsed when imitating by making one thing closely resemble another, including copying or counterfeiting and forging, such as reproducing a style, appearance, or signature.
- ichidan verb, transitive verbMeans to pattern or model one thing after another, treating something as an analogue of something else, often in abstract or figurative comparison; only indirectly an everyday word for imitating.
Choose まねる for directly mimicking, 「ならう」 or 「見習う」 for following someone's example, 「似せる」 for making something resemble a model, and 「なぞらえる」 for patterning one thing after another.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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