Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 似 (sì) evolved from ancient forms depicting a person (人 or 亻) next to another element representing 'to give' or 'to present' (以). Its core meaning is 'to resemble,' 'to be like,' or 'to imitate.' The concept suggests one person following or matching the appearance or actions of another, hence the association with likeness and similarity. Over time, the structure was standardized in clerical and regular script to the modern form 似, solidifying its meaning related to resemblance and simulation. Arrived in Japan: The character 似, along with many other Chinese characters, is believed to have arrived in Japan during the early centuries CE, primarily through the Korean Peninsula. Its formal adoption and systematic use in Japan significantly increased with the introduction of Buddhism and Chinese classical texts, especially during the Asuka and Nara periods (6th to 8th centuries).