如同

• Pinyin: rú tóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 如 = 女 (woman) + 口 (mouth); 同 = 口 (mouth) inside 冂 (enclosure)

Meaning

As if; just like; similar to.

A formal comparison word used to draw analogies or similes. More literary than 像 or 好像. Often used in descriptive writing or formal contexts to create vivid comparisons. Implies a strong resemblance between two things.

Examples

1. 她的声音如同天籁一般，让人听了就放松下来。 Her voice is like heavenly music, making people feel relaxed just listening to it.
2. 时间过得如同流水，转眼间我们都已经三十多岁了。 Time passes like flowing water — in the blink of an eye, we're all already in our thirties.
3. 这次失败如同当头一棒，让他清醒了许多。 This failure was like a blow to the head, making him much more clear-headed.

Usage Guide

Context: written, literary, descriptive

Tone: poetic

Do Say

• 他对待工作如同对待生命一样认真。(He treats his work as seriously as he treats life itself.)
• 这消息如同晴天霹雳。(This news was like a bolt from the blue.)

Don't Say

• 这个蛋糕如同我妈做的 — too literary for casual speech; use 像 instead (这个蛋糕像我妈做的)

Origin & History

Classical compound from 如 (like, as) + 同 (same), meaning 'as if the same' or 'just like.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal