模仿

mó fǎng

To imitate, copy, or mimic the behavior, speech, style, or actions of another person or thing

他从小就喜欢模仿父亲的说话方式。

He has loved imitating his father's way of speaking since he was a child.

Etymology

The word combines 模 (meaning 'model, pattern') and 仿 (meaning 'copy, follow'). It emerged in ancient Chinese texts to describe the act of following an existing example, and has kept its core meaning to the modern day.

Memory Aid

Break the word into two parts: 模 = model, 仿 = follow. To imitate is just to follow after an existing model.

Collocations

模仿表演模仿语气模仿动作模仿名人

Synonyms

模拟仿效效仿

Antonyms

创作创新原创

Related Words

抄袭学习榜样模拟