<p><strong><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/895/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">犹</a></strong> carries the meaning of 'like'</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/503/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">如</a></strong> also carries the meaning of 'like'</p>
<p>From my answer to another question:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Put two characters with similar meaning together and create a compound word can remove ambiguity. It is very common in coining Chinese words . For example: Both 刚 and 才 carry other meanings, (刚 also means 'hard'; 才 also means 'talent') but '刚才' can only mean 'just'.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>'<strong>犹如</strong>' is a compound word of two characters that carry the meaning of 'like'; 'as if'</p>
<blockquote>
<p>有</p>
<p><em>have/ possess</em></p>
<p>'有如'(possess the similar quality) = 'like' ; 'as if'</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The two terms seem to be interchangeable, different only in etmology</p>
<p>Examples sentences:</p>
<ol>
<li><p><strong>犹如</strong>把錢扔進大海 (<strong>Like</strong>/ <strong>As if</strong> throw money into the sea)</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>有如</strong>把錢扔進大海 (<strong>Like</strong>/ <strong>As if</strong> throw money into the sea)</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-14T07:34:00.020Z
I can't agree with " 如 means 'equal to' or 'as same as' ",  1. when 如 used as a single word, it means 'according to; as; as if; for instance; like; such as;', 2. when used like 犹如，both 犹 and 如 mean 'like, similar to, just like, as', so '犹如' means 'similar to' / 'like', and more (metaphorically) similar than just single word 犹 or 如.
Snger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-14T07:48:51.237Z
如 has more than one meaning, 'equal to'  and 'as same as' are not wrong ('equal to' is not exactly the same' ). But from my answer to another question  : *Put two characters with similar meaning together and create a compound word can remove ambiguity. It is very common in coining Chinese words . For example: Both 刚 and 才 carry other meanings, (刚 also means 'hard'; 才 also means 'talent') but '刚才' can only mean 'just'*. -- 犹如 too, seem to be a compound word of two similar characters that carry the meaning of 'like'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-14T07:58:23.707Z
I don't think put " 二二如四 (2 X 2 = 4) , 如 means 'equal to' or 'as same as' " here is helpful for understand. 如 in 犹如 is also means 'like, similar to'.
Snger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-14T08:04:57.570Z
I completely changed my answer, thanks for  reminding me
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-12T00:39:23.860Z
2017-07-14T18:18:07.880Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>With similar meaning, 犹如 is used more widely than 有如， which is only found in the writings like  the Four Classics, as far as I know.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-12T02:52:59.127Z
2017-07-12T02:52:59.127Z
NanningYouth
<p>As a Chinese student, I also can't tell them exactly 
犹如=好像（as if）
有如=就像（be like）<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vRVG0.png" alt="enter image description here"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/V0Y7u.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-13T17:28:15.013Z
2017-07-13T17:28:15.013Z
Zhang LiHao
<p>What is the difference between 犹如　　vs  有如?
They seem to mean the same thing, are they also the same meaning as 象　?
My Chinese is not good enough to understand dictionary translations.
Thank you :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-12T21:11:02.540Z
Since ＂Chinese Language Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the **finer points** of the Chinese language.＂it would seem that users might be expected to be able to use dictionaries.
user6065
<grammar><word-choice>
Difference between 犹如 vs 有如
# Difference between 犹如 vs 有如

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-11)

What is the difference between 犹如　　vs 有如?
They seem to mean the same thing, are they also the same meaning as 象　?
My Chinese is not good enough to understand dictionary translations.
Thank you :)

**Tags:** grammar, word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Since ＂Chinese Language Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the **finer points** of the Chinese language.＂it would seem that users might be expected to be able to use dictionaries.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-12. Score: 2

**[犹](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/895/)** carries the meaning of 'like'

**[如](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/503/)** also carries the meaning of 'like'

From my answer to another question:

> *Put two characters with similar meaning together and create a compound word can remove ambiguity. It is very common in coining Chinese words . For example: Both 刚 and 才 carry other meanings, (刚 also means 'hard'; 才 also means 'talent') but '刚才' can only mean 'just'.*

'**犹如**' is a compound word of two characters that carry the meaning of 'like'; 'as if'

> 有
>
> *have/ possess*
>
> '有如'(possess the similar quality) = 'like' ; 'as if'

The two terms seem to be interchangeable, different only in etmology

Examples sentences:

1. **犹如**把錢扔進大海 (**Like**/ **As if** throw money into the sea)
2. **有如**把錢扔進大海 (**Like**/ **As if** throw money into the sea)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I can't agree with " 如 means 'equal to' or 'as same as' ",  1. when 如 used as a single word, it means 'according to; as; as if; for instance; like; such as;', 2. when used like 犹如，both 犹 and 如 mean 'like, similar to, just like, as', so '犹如' means 'similar to' / 'like', and more (metaphorically) similar than just single word 犹 or 如.  
> **username_2**: 如 has more than one meaning, 'equal to'  and 'as same as' are not wrong ('equal to' is not exactly the same' ). But from my answer to another question  : *Put two characters with similar meaning together and create a compound word can remove ambiguity. It is very common in coining Chinese words . For example: Both 刚 and 才 carry other meanings, (刚 also means 'hard'; 才 also means 'talent') but '刚才' can only mean 'just'*. -- 犹如 too, seem to be a compound word of two similar characters that carry the meaning of 'like'  
> **username_3**: I don't think put " 二二如四 (2 X 2 = 4) , 如 means 'equal to' or 'as same as' " here is helpful for understand. 如 in 犹如 is also means 'like, similar to'.  
> **username_2**: I completely changed my answer, thanks for  reminding me  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-07-12. Score: 1

With similar meaning, 犹如 is used more widely than 有如， which is only found in the writings like the Four Classics, as far as I know.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-07-13. Score: 0

As a Chinese student, I also can't tell them exactly
犹如=好像（as if）
有如=就像（be like）![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/vRVG0.png)![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/V0Y7u.png)


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