瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ

うりふたつ
noun
spitting image; very much alike
expressionperson
1. spitting image; very much alike; like two peas in a pod
Describes two people or things that look extremely similar, especially in physical appearance. Derives from the idea that when you cut a melon (瓜(うり)) in half, the two halves look identical.
親子(おやこ)で瓜(うり)二(ふた)つだ。
The parent and child are the spitting image of each other.
双子(ふたご)の姉妹(しまい)は瓜(うり)二(ふた)つで見分(みわ)けがつかない。
The twin sisters look so alike that you can't tell them apart.
若(わか)い頃(ころ)の母(はは)の写真(しゃしん)を見(み)たら、娘(むすめ)と瓜(うり)二(ふた)つで驚(おどろ)いた。
When I saw a photo of my mother when she was young, I was surprised at how much she looked like my daughter.

The etymology comes from cutting a 瓜(うり) (gourd/melon) in half — the two halves are perfectly identical. This is one of the most common expressions for describing a strong family resemblance.

Common collocations

  • 瓜(うり)二(ふた)つだ — to be the spitting image
  • 父親(ちちおや)と瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ — the spitting image of one's father
  • まるで瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ — exactly alike

Usage

Most often used to describe resemblance between family members, especially parent and child. Can also be used for unrelated people who happen to look very similar. Typically used as a predicate with だ or の.

Similar words

  • そっくり — looking just like (more casual and broadly used; 瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ is more vivid and literary)
  • 生(い)き写(うつ)し — a living copy (more literary; emphasizes an almost uncanny resemblance)

Related Words

Compare: そっくり (exactly alike, the spitting image)
Compare: 酷似(こくじ) (striking resemblance)
general
Added 2026.3.25 17:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19000/19320_urifutatsu