“Seems” in Chinese – 似乎 sìhū

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 似乎 sìhū is similar to saying “seems like” or “seems” in English. It helps describe when something appears a certain way based on what you see or feel, but it’s not confirmed or certain.

Structure

S + 似乎 sìhū + Description/Action/Verb Phrase

似乎 sìhū is actually the formal term for 好像 hǎoxiàng in Chinese.

你nǐ似乎sìhū很hěn緊張jǐnzhāng你nǐ似乎sìhū很hěn紧张jǐnzhāng
You seem quite nervous.

那個nàge人rén似乎sìhū不知道bùzhīdào要yào怎麼zěnme開始kāishǐ那个nàge人rén似乎sìhū不知道bùzhīdào要yào怎么zěnme开始kāishǐ
That person seems unsure how to start.

他tā似乎sìhū沒有méiyǒu多餘的duōyúde錢qián來lái買mǎi奢侈品shēchǐpǐn他tā似乎sìhū没有méiyǒu多余的duōyúde钱qián来lái买mǎi奢侈品shēchǐpǐn
He seems to lack extra money to buy luxury items.

那nà隻zhī貓māo似乎sìhū想xiǎng表達biǎodá什麼shénme那nà只zhǐ猫māo似乎sìhū想xiǎng表达biǎodá什么shénme
It seems like that cat wants to tell me something.

經過jīngguò了le這zhè些xiē年nián， 我wǒ似乎sìhū了解liǎojiě了le這zhè世上shìshàng沒有méiyǒu所謂的suǒwèide正義zhèngyì经过jīngguò了le这zhè些xiē年nián， 我wǒ似乎sìhū了解liǎojiě了le这zhè世上shìshang没有méiyǒu所谓的suǒwèide正义zhèngyì
Over these years, I seem to have understood that there’s no such thing as justice in this world.

那個nàge男人nánrén似乎sìhū對duì你nǐ有意思yǒuyìsi那个nàge男人nánrén似乎sìhū对duì你nǐ有意思yǒuyìsi
That man seems to be interested in you.

FYI
In Taiwan, there’s a unique behavior that indicates someone’s interest in you: buying or making breakfast for you. Compared to other countries, Taiwanese people tend to take breakfast more seriously. We believe a good breakfast sets you up for the day. If someone regularly prepares breakfast for you, it’s a sign they’re interested in you.

Comparison Chart

好像 hǎoxiàng (HSK 2)	seems like	More casual, everyday speaking
似乎 sìhū (HSK 4)	it seems; it appears	Formal, often used in writing, logical tone, polite speech
彷彿仿佛 fǎngfú (HSK 6)	as if	More emotional or poetic, often for descriptions

他tā今天jīntiān好像hǎoxiàng心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo他tā今天jīntiān好像hǎoxiàng心情xīnqíng不好bùhǎo
He seems to be in a bad mood today.

外面wàimiàn似乎sìhū要yào下雨xiàyǔ了le， 天色tiānsè變biàn得de很hěn暗àn外面wàimiàn似乎sìhū要yào下雨xiàyǔ了le， 天色tiānsè变biàn得de很hěn暗àn
It seems like it is going to rain outside; the sky is getting very dark.

夕陽xìyáng下xià的de大地dàdì彷彿fǎngfú披pī上shàng了le一yì層céng金色jīnsè的de紗shā衣yī夕阳xīyáng下xià的de大地dàdì仿佛fǎngfú披pī上shang了le一yì层céng金色jīnsè的de纱shā衣yī
Under the sunset, the earth seemed to be covered with a golden veil.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️It seems like you still don’t know what you did wrong.

你nǐ似乎sìhū還hái不知道bùzhīdào自己zìjǐ做zuò錯cuò了le什麼shénme你nǐ似乎sìhū还hái不知道bùzhīdào自己zìjǐ做zuò错cuò了le什么shénme

✔️ Your dog seems sick; you should take him to the vet soon.

你的nǐde狗gǒu似乎sìhū病了bìngle， 你nǐ快kuài帶dài他tā去qù看kàn醫生yīshēng吧ba你的nǐde狗gǒu似乎sìhū病了bìngle， 你nǐ快kuài带dài他tā去qù看kàn医生yīshēng吧ba

✔️ Chinese doesn’t seem as difficult as I imagined.

中文zhōngwén似乎sìhū沒有méiyǒu我wǒ想像中xiǎngxiàngzhōng的de那麼nàme難nán中文zhōngwén似乎sìhū没有méiyǒu我wǒ想像中xiǎngxiàngzhōng的de那么nàme难nán