Discussion of 像

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像 and 有 can both be used in a sentence expressing comparison. What are their differences? “A像B” means that there is a resemblance between A and B. “A像B这么C” means that the resemblance between A and B resides in a certain aspect C.
“A有B这么C” means that A has reached the degree of B in aspect C.

lisaC

In this post, we mainly discuss how to use 像 in a sentence indicating comparison.
像 is used to express that two persons or things are similar to each other. 像 is followed by the one which is the standard of comparison. There are certain patterns:
1. Person/thing to be compared 像 The standard of comparison:
E.g. 1a 你像一棵大树。 [phr] (lyrics) You are like a big tree.
(The negative form is adding 不 before 像）
2. Person/thing to be compared 像 The standard of comparison 一样
E.g. 2a 马路上的汽车像河流一样。 [phr] The vehicles on the road are like a river.
3. Person/thing to be compared 像 The standard of comparison ＋这么／这样／那么／那样 The aspect of comparison
E.g. 3a 我像爸爸那么爱游泳。[phr] I like swimming as much as my dad.

Words or phrases before or after 像 have to be comparable or belong to the same type. In the first pattern, 像 is used as a predicate verb. In this case, adverbs of degree can be used before 像：
E.g. 1b 你很（or 特别）像一棵大树。
In the second and third pattern, the 像-phrase is used as the adverbial adjunct (像河流、像爸爸 in E.g. 2a and 3a), adverbs of degree can NOT be used before 像. It is WRONG to say E.g. 2b and 3b （Asterisk before a sentence indicates that sentence is wrong).
E.g. 2b 马路上的汽车非常像河流一样。
E.g. 3b 我很像爸爸那么爱游泳。

lisaC

Is 像 used when talking about physical similarities or metaphorical similarities? (xiàng)

个学生

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Yes, 像 (xiàng) is used when talking about both physical and metaphorical similarities. It is used to describe how something looks like or is similar to something else. For example, 她像她妈妈 (tā xiàng tā māma; She looks like her mother). It can also be used to describe a comparison between two things, such as 我像你一样 (wǒ xiàng nǐ yíyàng; I'm like you).

当老师

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What context is 像 used in? (xiàng)

个学生

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像 (xiàng) is used to express similarity or resemblance between two things. For example, it can be used to compare two people or objects, or to describe a person or object in terms of another. For example, one might say 他像他父亲 (tā xiàng tā fùqin; He looks like his father). It can also be used to describe a situation or event in terms of another, such as 他的行为像他的母亲 (tā de xíngwéi xiàng tā de mǔqin; His behavior is like his mother's).

当老师

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Is 像 used to compare two things or more than two things? (xiàng)

个学生

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