Expressing "it seems" with "haoxiang"

To express "seems," the word 好像 (hǎoxiàng) can be used.

Structure

Subj. + 好像 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 好像 是 英国 人 。hǎoxiàng shì Yīngguó rén.He seems to be British.
  • 好像 不 是 本地 人 。hǎoxiàng bù shì běndì rén.You don't seem to be a local.
  • 好像 生病 了 。hǎoxiàng shēngbìng le.It seems like she's sick.
  • 好像 很 不 喜欢 她 。hǎoxiàng hěn bù xǐhuan tā.It seems that you dislike her a lot.
  • 王 先生 好像 很怕 他 老婆 。Wáng xiānsheng hǎoxiàng hěn pà tā lǎopo.Mr. Wang seems to fear his wife a lot.
  • 他 一个人 坐 在 那儿 ,好像 在 想 事情 。Tā yī gèrén zuò zài nàr, hǎoxiàng zài xiǎng shìqing.He's sitting there all by himself. It seems like he's thinking about something.

Note that if this structure is used without a subject, it has the meaning of "it seems that..." in English. This could then be followed by an entire statement.

  • 好像 不 行 。Hǎoxiàng bù xíng.It seems that it didn't work.
  • 好像 要 下雨 了 。Hǎoxiàng yào xiàyǔ le.It seems that it's going to rain.
  • 好像 有 人 敲门 。Hǎoxiàng yǒu rén qiāo mén.It seems that someone is knocking at the door.
  • 好像 有 人 来 过 。Hǎoxiàng yǒu rén lái guo.It seems that someone was here.


See also

Sources and further reading

Books