似(に)る

にる
verb (ichidan)
to resemble, to be similar
1. to resemble, to look like
To have similar appearance or characteristics to something or someone else.
彼(かれ)は父親(ちちおや)に似(に)ている。
He looks like his father.
に marks who/what is resembled
この二(ふた)つはよく似(に)ている。
These two are very similar.
似(に)たような経験(けいけん)がある。
I have a similar experience.
似(に)た (た-form) used as modifier

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). Pattern: XがYに似(に)る (X resembles Y) / XとYが似(に)る (X and Y are similar).

ASPECT: ている is almost always used. 似(に)ている = 'resembles' (state). The plain form 似(に)る is rarely used alone.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • Xに似(に)ている (resemble X)
  • よく似(に)ている (look very similar)
  • 似(に)たような (similar—attributive)
  • 似合(にあ)う (to suit, look good on—related but different verb)
  • 似顔絵(にがおえ) (portrait, likeness)

GRAMMAR NOTE: Unlike many verbs, 似(に)る is almost exclusively used in the ている form in modern Japanese. Saying X は Y に似(に)る sounds unnatural; X は Y に似(に)ている is correct.

RELATED:

  • 似合(にあ)う: to suit (a different verb meaning 'to look good on')
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:48 · Revised 2026.3.6 8:50
01000/01159_niru