似る|にるniru[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto resemble; to look like; to be like; to be alike; to be similar; to take after
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 似る（にる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 似ます（にます） |
| Negative (nai) | 似ない（にない） |
| polite (masen) | 似ません（にません） |
| classical zu / nu | 似ず・似ぬ（にず・にぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 似た（にた） |
| polite (mashita) | 似ました（にました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 似なかった（になかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 似ませんでした（にませんでした） |
| Te form | 似て（にて） |
| Potential | 似られる（にられる） |
| Passive | 似られる（にられる） |
| Causative | 似させる（にさせる） |
| Causative passive | 似させられる（にさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 似れば（にれば） |
| tara | 似たら（にたら） |
| Volitional | 似よう（によう） |
| polite (mashou) | 似ましょう（にましょう） |
| Imperative | 似ろ（にろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
顔が母に似る
顔を母に似せる
似る describes a natural resemblance that occurs on its own, while 似せる describes an intentional act of making something resemble something else.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym類似るいじWrittenA Sino-Japanese word for resemblance or similarity, as in 「類似品」; written/formal prose, often used when comparing products or cases.
- Synonym相似そうじWrittenCovers likeness of shape or qualities, and is also the mathematical term behind 「相似形」; more academic than 「似る」.
- Synonym類するるいするWrittenWritten/formal prose for being of the same kind, as in 「これに類する事例」; it stresses classification, not looking alike.
- Synonym酷似こくじWrittenMeans an extremely close resemblance, so close the two are hard to tell apart, as in 「酷似した事件」; far stronger than 「似る」.
- Synonym似ているNeutralThe ている form of 「似る」; everyday speech says 「よく似ている」, and this is the form for describing a state of resemblance.
- Antonym違うちがうNeutralThe everyday opposite of 「似る」: to be different, as in 「性格が違う」; very common in speech.
- Antonym異なることなるWrittenAlso the opposite of 「似る」, to differ, as in 「意見が異なる」; leans toward written/formal prose.
Default to 「似る」 for resembling; use 「似ている」 for the state. In written prose pick 「類似」, 「酷似」 for striking likeness, 「類する」 for the same kind. For being different, say 「違う」 in speech and 「異なる」 in formal prose.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
