肖 (xiào) - To resemble & to be like

肖Tone 4

xiào ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: ⺌

想信

肖 · xiào

To resemble;

to be like;

a surname;

also used in the word for portrait (肖像).

To resembleto be likea surname

Usage highlights

To resemblePortraitLikenessSurname XiaoTo imitateImage

Synonyms

  • 似— to resemble
  • 像— to be like; image

Antonyms

  • 异— different; dissimilar
  • 不肖— unworthy (in the sense of not resembling virtuous ancestors)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The child resembles his father (肖其父).
  • This is a portrait painting (肖像画).
  • He is surnamed Xiao (他姓肖).
  • The sculpture bears a likeness to the subject (惟妙惟肖).

Collocations

  • To resemble(肖似)
  • Portrait(肖像)
  • Likeness(肖像)
  • Surname Xiao(肖姓)
  • To imitate(肖仿)
  • Image(肖像)

Idioms

  • Vivid and lifelike(惟妙惟肖)
  • Not resembling one's father(不肖之子)
  • To draw a portrait(肖像写生)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • As a surname, Xiao is common in China, though historically less prominent than some other surnames.
  • In classical usage, '不肖' (unworthy) was used to describe someone who did not live up to family expectations, especially a son.
  • The character conveys the idea of likeness and representation, important in both art and family lineage.

FAQ