▎A 像 B 一樣, (A xiàng B yíyàng), A is just like B

 

Function This pattern is used when we wish to point to the resemblances between two things or between two situations, i.e., A is just like B (in that...); A is true in the way that B is true. A/B may be NP, VP or S.

(1) A/B is an NP.

1 台灣的水果像越南的水果一樣好吃。

Táiwān de shuǐguǒ xiàng Yuènán de shuǐguǒ yíyàng hǎochī.

Taiwanese fruit tastes just as good as Vietnamese fruit.

2 花蓮的海邊像我的國家的海邊一樣漂亮。

Huālián de hǎibiān xiàng wǒ de guójiā de hǎibiān yíyàng piàoliàng.

The beach at Hualien is just as beautiful as the beach in my country.

3 現在的手機像電腦一樣方便，都可以上網。

Xiànzài de shǒujī xiàng diànnǎo yíyàng fāngbiàn, dōu kěyǐ shàngwǎng.

Now, cell phones are just as convenient as computers in that they can both go on-line.

(2) A/B is a VP.

1 他很有錢。買房子就像買車子一樣容易。

Tā hěn yǒu qián. Mǎi fángzi jiù xiàng mǎi chēzi yíyàng róngyì.

He’s rich. He can buy a house as easily as he can buy a car.

2 學語言像學做菜一樣，多練習就會學得好。

Xué yǔyán xiàng xué zuò cài yíyàng, duō liànxí jiù huì xué de hǎo.

Learning a language is like learning how to cook: practice a lot and you’ll learn it well.

3 他的體力很好。跑三千公尺就像走路一樣輕鬆。

Tā de tǐlì hěn hǎo. Pǎo sānqiān gōngchǐ jiù xiàng zǒulù yíyàng qīngsōng.

He’s in good shape. Running 3,000 meters is as easy as walking for him.

(3) A/B is a clause.

1 泰國有很多廟，就像法國有很多教堂一樣。

Tàiguó yǒu hěn duō miào, jiù xiàng Fǎguó yǒu hěn duō jiàotáng yíyàng.

Thailand has many temples, just like France has many cathedrals.

2 哥哥喜歡喝咖啡，就像爸爸喜歡喝烏龍茶一樣。

Gēge xǐhuān hē kāfēi, jiù xiàng bàba xǐhuān hē Wūlóng chá yíyàng.

My big brother likes to drink coffee in much the same way that my dad likes to drink Oolong tea.

3 小李收到女朋友送的手機，就像他拿到獎學金一樣高興。

Xiǎo Lǐ shōudào nǚpéngyǒu sòng de shǒujī, jiù xiàng tā nádào jiǎngxuéjīn yíyàng gāoxìng.

Xiao Li was as happy when he received the cellphone from his girlfriend as he was when he received the scholarship.

 

Structures

Negation：

1 妹妹不像姐姐一樣，那麼常買新衣服。

Mèimei bú xiàng jiějie yíyàng, nàme cháng mǎi xīn yīfú.

The younger sister is not like her older sister, who often buys new clothes.

2 小明今年過生日的氣氛不像去年一樣熱鬧。

Xiǎomíng jīnnián guò shēngrì de qìfēn bú xiàng qùnián yíyàng rènào.

The atmosphere for Xiaoming’s birthday party this year is not as fun and lively as last year’s.

3 那個餐廳做的菜不像以前一樣那麼有特色。

Nà ge cāntīng zuò de cài bú xiàng yǐqián yíyàng nàme yǒu tèsè.

The food at that restaurant are not as unique as it once was.

Questions：

1 美美的中文是不是說得像台灣人一樣好？

Měiměi de Zhōngwén shìbúshì shuō de xiàng Táiwān rén yíyàng hǎo?

Does Meimei speak Chinese as well as Taiwanese people do?

2 你覺得教英文是不是像教西班牙文一樣容易？

Nǐ juéde jiāo Yīngwén shìbúshì xiàng jiāo Xībānyáwén yíyàng róngyì?

Do you think teaching English is as easy as teaching Spanish?

3 你們家準備結婚是不是像我們家準備結婚一樣麻煩？

Nǐmen jiā zhǔnbèi jiéhūn shìbúshì xiàng wǒmen jiā zhǔnbèi jiéhūn yíyàng máfán?

Are wedding preparations as much of a hassle in your family as they are in ours?

 

Usage The A-not-A pattern can work with ‘A 跟 B 一樣’, but it does not work with ‘A 像 B 一樣’. 跟 relates to comparison, while 像 relates to resemblance.

1 小籠包跟包子一樣不一樣？

Xiǎolóngbāo gēn bāozi yíyàng bù yíyàng?

Are steamed dumplings the same as steamed buns?

2 ＊小籠包像包子一樣不一樣？

＊Xiǎolóngbāo xiàng bāozi yíyàng bù yíyàng?