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 :)
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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.– user6065Jul 12, 2017 at 21:11
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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.
answered Jul 12, 2017 at 2:52
As a Chinese student, I also can't tell them exactly
犹如=好像（as if）
有如=就像（be like）
