Meaning of 如同
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- like
- as
How to use 如同
如同 is a slightly formal verb used to compare two things, often in writing or speeches. It is frequently paired with 一样 or 一般 at the end of the comparison. Example: 他对我如同亲兄弟一样。(Tā duì wǒ rútóng qīn xiōngdì yíyàng.) He treats me like a real brother.
如 (rú) means "like" or "as," seen in 如果 (rúguǒ) and 不如 (bùrú), and 同 (tóng) means "same," as in 同样 (tóngyàng). Put them together: "like the same" gives you 如同, "just like."
Common mistake: Learners often swap 如同 with 同样 (tóngyàng), but 同样 means "equally" or "also" and does not introduce a comparison like "like" does. Also keep both syllables in the second tone: rútóng, not rùtōng.
如同 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
如 rú · as · 6 strokes
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同 tóng · like · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 如同.
| 同学 | tóngxué | to study at the same school; fellow student |
| 如果 | rúguǒ | if; in case; in the event that |
| 不同 | bù tóng | different; distinct |
| 同样 | tóngyàng | same; equal; similar; similarly; also; too |
| 不如 | bùrú | not equal to; not as good as; inferior to; it would be better to |
| 同时 | tóngshí | at the same time; simultaneously |
| 比如 | bǐrú | for example; for instance; such as |
| 同事 | tóngshì | colleague; co-worker |
| 相同 | xiāngtóng | identical; same |
| 比如说 | bǐrú shuō | for example |
| 例如 | lìrú | for example; for instance; such as |
| 如何 | rúhé | how; what way |
Questions about 如同
What does 如同 mean?
如同 (rútóng) means "like; as" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 如同?
如同 is made of 2 characters: 如 (6 strokes), 同 (6 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 如同 an HSK word?
Yes. 如同 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 如同 and 像?
Both mean "like," but 像 (xiàng) is everyday and spoken, while 如同 sounds more formal or literary. In casual talk, 像 is the safer choice.
Can 如同 be used with 一样 at the end?
Yes. The pattern A 如同 B 一样 is common and natural, for example 时间如同流水一样 (shíjiān rútóng liúshuǐ yíyàng), time is like flowing water. You can also drop 一样 and the sentence is still correct.