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 :)
3 Answers
犹 carries the meaning of 'like'
如 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:
犹如把錢扔進大海 (Like/ As if throw money into the sea)
有如把錢扔進大海 (Like/ As if throw money into the sea)
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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.– SngerJul 14, 2017 at 7:34
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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 ♦Jul 14, 2017 at 7:48
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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'.– SngerJul 14, 2017 at 7:58
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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.