像 xiàng — (look) like; similar (to); appearance; to appear; to seem; image
这个孩子长得很像他爸爸。Zhè ge hái zi zhǎng de hěn xiàng tā bà ba.This child looks a lot like his father.
Common words: 好像 (hǎo xiàng)、偶像 (ǒu xiàng)、摄像机 (shè xiàng jī)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "image"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "image", including 像 (xiàng), 影 (yǐng), 偶 (ǒu). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "image" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 像 (xiàng), 影 (yǐng), 偶 (ǒu) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiàng, yǐng, ǒu — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 像 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 像 xiàng(look) like; similar (to); appearance; to appear; to seem; imageUseful words: 好像, 偶像
- 影 yǐngpicture; image; reflection; shadowUseful words: 电影, 电影院
- 偶 ǒuaccidental; image; pair; mateUseful words: 偶尔, 偶像
Common words for these 3 "image" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 像 (xiàng) — so "image" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
好像hǎo xiàngas if; to seem like偶像ǒu xiàngidol摄像机shè xiàng jīvideo camera电影diàn yǐngmovie; film电影院diàn yǐng yuàncinema; movie theater影响yǐng xiǎnginfluence; effect; to influence; to affect (usually adversely)偶尔ǒu ěroccasionally; once in a while; sometimes偶像ǒu xiàngidol偶然ǒu ránincidentally; occasional; occasionally; by chance
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "image".
影 yǐng — picture; image; reflection; shadow
树的影子映在水里。Shù de yǐng zi yìng zài shuǐ lǐ.The shadow of the tree is reflected in the water.
Common words: 电影 (diàn yǐng)、电影院 (diàn yǐng yuàn)、影响 (yǐng xiǎng)
偶 ǒu — accidental; image; pair; mate
我们俩只是偶然认识的。Wǒ men liǎ zhǐ shì ǒu rán rèn shi de.The two of us met merely by chance.
Common words: 偶尔 (ǒu ěr)、偶像 (ǒu xiàng)、偶然 (ǒu rán)
All 3 characters
Open 像、影、偶 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.