()せる

にせる
verb (ichidan)
to imitate; to make to resemble; to copy
他動詞 transitiveaction
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present()せる()せない
Present polite()せます()せません
Past()せた()せなかった
Past polite()せました()せませんでした
て form()せて()せなくて
ている present()せている()せていない
ている polite()せています()せていません
ている past()せていた()せていなかった
ている past polite()せていました()せていませんでした
Conditional ば()せれば()せなければ
Conditional たら()せたら()せなかったら
Volitional()せよう
Volitional polite()せましょう
Potential()せられる()せられない
Passive()せられる()せられない
Causative()せさせる()せさせない
Imperative()せろ()せるな
1. to imitate; to make to resemble; to copy the appearance of
To deliberately make something look like or resemble something else. Often used for creating reproductions, copying styles, or disguising something as another thing.
To make it to look like the real thing.
I painted it in imitation of a famous artist's style.
He's good at imitating voices and can mimic anyone.
This product is a counterfeit made to resemble the brand-name item.

Causative-like form derived from () (to resemble). While () describes a state of resemblance, ()せる describes the deliberate act of making something resemble something else. The word (にせ) (fake, counterfeit) is etymologically related.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 真似(まね)する: to imitate, mimic — broader; includes imitating behavior, gestures, and speech
  • 模倣(もほう)する: to imitate, emulate — formal; used for copying styles, methods, or works
  • (): to resemble — describes a natural or existing resemblance, not a deliberate act