Observation: looking like
ใใ
Means that it looks like. Used from direct knowledge or experience, with a high degree of confidence.
It has two meanings:
- Looks like something: visual observation. Similar to ใฟใใ, but more polite.
- Perhaps it is. Might be something else, but it look like it is.
Contrary to ใใ, focuses on the more logical aspect of things.
ใใใ
V (casual)
ใ-Adj
ใช-Adj + ใช
N + ใฎ
+ ใใใ
Means that it looks like, appears like, seems like.
Example
ๅญไพใๅฌใใใใใ ใ The kids look happy (= I can see them laughing and smiling).
ใใใซใปใใใช
V (casual)
N + ใฎ
+ [ใใใซ + V] ใป [ใใใช + N]
Expresses โin the manner ofโ.
Examples
ๆฐๅนน็ทใฎใใใช้ๅบฆใ Speed like a Shinkansen.
ใขใใซใฎใใใซ้ฃในใใ To eat like a duck.
ใใ
Contrary to ใใ, focuses on a more subjective feeling.
ใใใ
V ใพใ
ใ-Adj ใ
ใช-Adj + ใ
+ ใใใ
Means that it looks like. Do not confuse with ใใใ .
Examples
ใใใใใใ ใ lt looks like it is delicious.
ใใใซใปใใใช
V ใพใ
ใ-Adj ใ
ใช-Adj + ใ
+ ใใใใซใปใใใชใ + NใปV
Also means that it looks like, but connecting to nouns and verbs.
Example
้ข็ฝใใใซไบบใงใใ He seems like an interesting person.
ใฟใใ
ใฟใใ means similar to, like. Used for direct observation, with a high degree of certainty in consequence. Usually used for visual observation. It is a less polite form of ใใใ .
ใฟใใใ
The basic form, used with all forms of words.
Example
ไปๆฅใฏๆใใงใใญใๅคใฟใใใ ใชใ Itโs hot today, isnโt it. It looks like itโs summer.
ใฟใใใซ
V (casual)
N
+ ใฟใใใซ + V / Adj
The adverbial form.
Example
็ฌใฟใใใซ้ฃในใใ I ate like a dog.
ใฟใใใช
V (casual)
N
+ ใฟใใใช + N
Similar to the precedent form, but when using with nouns.
Example
ๆ ้ทใฟใใใช็บใ ใ A city like my hometown.
ใใใ
Expresses an information based on hearsay, or based on the situation, or ressemblance. This is always used based on a source that is unknown or ambiguous. It can be similar to a guess. Similar to the โperhapsโ meaning of ใใใ . Also used for something typical, expected, characteristic.
Examples
็ทใใใใ Typical of a man (befitting of a man).
ไปๆฅใฏๅใใใใชใใ You arenโt yourself today.
ใฃใฝใ
V ใพใ
ใ-Adj ใ
N
+ ใฃใฝใ
This has the meaning of like, easy to, -ish. Makes a direct comparison with certainty, from the point of view of the person saying it. Close to an even more casual meaning of ใฟใใ, with a focus on attitude or gesture.
Examples
ๅญไพใฃใฝใใ Childish.
ๅฟใใฃใฝใใ Easy to forget.
ๆฐๅณ
V ใพใ
N
+ ๆฐๅณ
ๆฐๅณ means that it shows sign of. It talks about a condition (tiredness, sickness, lateness, etc).
Example
ไปๆฅใๅใฏใกใใฃใจ็ ๆฐๆฐๅณใงใใ You look a bit sick today.
Summing up
- ใใใ is a formal way to say that it looks like, usually from direct observation. Used for logical assumptions.
- ใใใ is used for things that are on the more subjective side.
- ใฟใใ is a less formal way, used in a casual conversation. Focused on visual information.
- ใฃใฝใ is even more casual. Usually used for attitude or gesture.
- ใใใ is usually used when something is typical or expected.
- ๆฐๅณ is used for condition (tiredness, sickness, lateness, etc).
ใซ่ฆใใ
V (ใฆ)
V (casual) + ใใใซ
ใ-Adj + ใใ
ใช-Adj + ใซ
N + (ใฎใใ) + ใซ
+ ่ฆใใ
This is used (unlike other forms that can apply to abstract similarities) exclusively for visual resemblance.
Example
ๅฝผๅฅณใฏใใฉใณในไบบใซ่ฆใใใ She looks like she is French.