“As if” in Chinese – 仿佛 fǎngfú

Grammar Point:
彷彿仿佛 fǎngfú is an adverb in Chinese that expresses similarity or resemblance. It’s used to describe something that appears or feels a certain way but may not actually be that way in reality.

Structure

S + 彷彿仿佛 fǎngfú + something else

彷彿仿佛 fǎngfú is often used when you describe feelings, appearances, or impressions, rather than stating absolute facts. In casual conversation, people usually prefer to use 好像 hǎoxiàng. In writing, such as in stories, essays, or vivid descriptions, 彷彿仿佛 fǎngfú is a great choice because it makes your language sound more elegant and refined.

天空tiānkōng彷彿fǎngfú被bèi染rǎn成chéng了le紅色hóngsè天空tiānkōng仿佛fǎngfú被bèi染rǎn成chéng了le红色hóngsè
The sky seems to be dyed red.

她tā聽到tīngdào這個zhège消息xiāoxí時shí， 彷彿pángfú松sōng了le一口氣yìkǒuqì她tā听到tīngdào这个zhège消息xiāoxi时shí， 仿佛fǎngfó松sōng了le一口气yìkǒuqì
When she heard the news, it seemed like she breathed a sigh of relief.

他tā的de話huà彷彿fǎngfú在zài告訴gàosù我wǒ不要búyào放棄fàngqì他tā的de话huà仿佛fǎngfú在zài告诉gàosu我wǒ不要búyào放弃fàngqì
His words felt like they were telling me not to give up.

我wǒ彷彿fǎngfú回到huídào了le童年tóngnián時代shídài我wǒ仿佛fǎngfú回到huídào了le童年tóngnián时代shídài
I feel as if I’ve returned to my childhood.

天氣tiānqì突然tūrán變biàn冷lěng了le， 彷彿fǎngfú一下子yíxiàzi到dào了le冬天dōngtiān天气tiānqì突然tūrán变biàn冷lěng了le， 仿佛fǎngfú一下子yíxiàzi到dào了le冬天dōngtiān
The weather suddenly turned cold, as if winter had arrived overnight.

他tā的de笑容xiàoróng彷彿fǎngfú能néng融化rónghuà所有suǒyǒu的de煩惱fánnǎo他tā的de笑容xiàoróng仿佛fǎngfú能néng融化rónghuà所有suǒyǒu的de烦恼fánnǎo
His smile felt like it could melt away all worries.

風fēng吹chuī過guò稻田dàotián， 彷彿fǎngfú金色jīnsè的de海洋hǎiyáng在zài波動bōdòng风fēng吹chuī过guò稻田dàotián， 仿佛fǎngfú金色jīnsè的de海洋hǎiyáng在zài波动bōdòng
The wind blowing across the rice field looked like waves on a golden ocean.

夜空yèkōng中zhōng閃爍shǎnshuò的de星星xīngxing， 彷彿fǎngfú在zài對duì我wǒ眨眼zhǎyǎn夜空yèkōng中zhōng闪烁shǎnshuò的de星星xīngxing， 仿佛fǎngfú在zài对duì我wǒ眨眼zhǎyǎn
The twinkling stars in the night sky seemed to wink at me.

Differences

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.