<p>似乎(as if; seem like) is more modern and colloquial, 宛如(just like; as if) is very classical and literary</p>

<p>似乎 mainly refer to metaphorical resemblance, 宛如 mainly refers to physical resemblance</p>

<p>Example:</p>

<p><strong>似乎</strong>要打仗了 (<strong>seem like</strong> we will go to war)</p>

<p><strong>似乎</strong>忘了自己是誰 (<strong>seem like</strong>/ <strong>as if</strong> forgotten who he is)</p>

<p>五座山峰一列排開，<strong>宛如</strong>五指，故名五指山 (the five mountain peaks stand side by side, <strong>just like</strong> five fingers in human hand, hence the name 'Five Fingers Mountains'</p>

<p>看他面目猙獰，<strong>宛如</strong>惡鬼猛獸 (look at his ferocious face, <strong>just like</strong> a demon or a beast)</p>

<p><em>The modern/colloquial equivalent of '宛如' is '就像'</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-10T02:20:18.817Z
2019-06-10T20:21:44.360Z
2019-06-10T20:21:44.360Z
Tang Ho
<p>Both 似乎 and 宛如 are translated in the same way ("as if..."). What are some examples where using one would be more appropriate than the other?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T00:16:25.817Z
see dictionaries, e.g. bkrs **似乎** #642（fr.rk.)
 **宛如** #15115 正像；好像：欢腾的人群宛如大海的波涛;仿佛 绚烂的晚霞, 宛如一幅锦绣
user6065
<difference>
What is the difference in usage between 似乎 and 宛如?
# What is the difference in usage between 似乎 and 宛如?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-10)

Both 似乎 and 宛如 are translated in the same way ("as if..."). What are some examples where using one would be more appropriate than the other?

**Tags:** difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: see dictionaries, e.g. bkrs **似乎** #642（fr.rk.)  **宛如** #15115 正像；好像：欢腾的人群宛如大海的波涛;仿佛 绚烂的晚霞, 宛如一幅锦绣  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-06-10. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

似乎(as if; seem like) is more modern and colloquial, 宛如(just like; as if) is very classical and literary

似乎 mainly refer to metaphorical resemblance, 宛如 mainly refers to physical resemblance

Example:

**似乎**要打仗了 (**seem like** we will go to war)

**似乎**忘了自己是誰 (**seem like**/ **as if** forgotten who he is)

五座山峰一列排開，**宛如**五指，故名五指山 (the five mountain peaks stand side by side, **just like** five fingers in human hand, hence the name 'Five Fingers Mountains'

看他面目猙獰，**宛如**惡鬼猛獸 (look at his ferocious face, **just like** a demon or a beast)

*The modern/colloquial equivalent of '宛如' is '就像'*


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