似せる|にせるniseru[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto copy; to imitate; to counterfeit; to forge
Conjugation
Dictionary form似せる(にせる)
Polite (masu)似せます(にせます)
Negative (nai)似せない(にせない)
polite (masen)似せません(にせません)
classical zu / nu似せず・似せぬ(にせず・にせぬ)
Past (ta)似せた(にせた)
polite (mashita)似せました(にせました)
Past negative (nakatta)似せなかった(にせなかった)
polite (masen deshita)似せませんでした(にせませんでした)
Te form似せて(にせて)
Potential似せられる(にせられる)
Passive似せられる(にせられる)
Causative似せさせる(にせさせる)
Causative passive似せさせられる(にせさせられる)
Conditional (ba)似せれば(にせれば)
tara似せたら(にせたら)
Volitional似せよう(にせよう)
polite (mashou)似せましょう(にせましょう)
Imperative似せろ(にせろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive似せるにせる⇄intransitive似るにる
顔かおが母ははに似にる
顔かおを母ははに似にせる
似る expresses a natural resemblance that arises without an agent (顔が母に似る), while 似せる expresses deliberately causing something to resemble something else (顔を母に似せる).

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym真似るまねるNeutralNeutral verb for imitating people's actions, words or attitudes; it centers on following a person, while 「似せる」 means making something resemble something else.
  • RelatedコピーNeutralLoanword for copying or photocopying something exactly as is; it makes a true duplicate; 「似せる」 makes one thing resemble another, not necessarily identical.
  • Related真似まねNeutralNeutral everyday noun for imitation that also covers behavior or conduct, often as 「〜の真似をする」; it names the act, while 「似せる」 makes things alike.
  • Related模写もしゃWrittenWritten/formal term for copying a picture or text so it closely matches the original; 「似せる」 is the general verb for making something resemble something else.
  • RelatedコピるCasualColloquial slang verb derived from 「コピー」, for copying or plagiarizing; 「似せる」 instead means making something resemble the original.
  • Related人まねひとまねNeutralNeutral noun for imitating others, focusing on copying their speech and actions; it is also used when an animal mimics human behavior.
  • RelatedものまねNeutralNeutral, everyday, and centered on mimicking voices and actions to entertain, i.e. impersonation; 「似せる」 is the general verb for making something similar.

Use 「似せる」 for making something resemble an original, as in 「本物に似せて作る」. For imitating people's words and actions pick 「真似る」 (noun 「真似」), for exact duplication 「コピー」; 「模写」 is the formal word for copying a picture or text.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 似にるようにする。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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