则 zé — (expresses contrast with a previous sentence or clause); standard; norm; rule; to imitate; to follow
这是我们必须遵守的规则。Zhè shì wǒ men bì xū zūn shǒu de guī zé.This is the rule we must follow.
Common words: 否则 (fǒu zé)、规则 (guī zé)、原则 (yuán zé)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to imitate"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to imitate", including 则 (zé), 仿 (fǎng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to imitate" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 则 (zé), 仿 (fǎng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zé, fǎng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 则 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 则 zé(expresses contrast with a previous sentence or clause); standard; norm; rule; to imitate; to followUseful words: 否则, 规则
- 仿 fǎngto imitate; to copy; imitate; seeminglyUseful words: 仿佛, 模仿
Common words for these 2 "to imitate" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 则 (zé) — so "to imitate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
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 2 ways to say "to imitate".
仿 fǎng — to imitate; to copy; imitate; seemingly
这幅画仿佛把我带到了大海边。Zhè fú huà fǎng fú bǎ wǒ dài dào le dà hǎi biān.This painting seems to take me to the seaside.
Common words: 仿佛 (fǎng fú)、模仿 (mó fǎng)、效仿 (xiào fǎng)
All 2 characters
Open 则、仿 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.