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道Nihongo Path
倣

倣·imitate, emulate, follow (an example)

On-yomi
ホウ
Kun-yomi
なら(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
倣うならうto follow (an example), to imitate
模倣もほうimitation, copying
模倣品もほうひんcounterfeit goods, knock-off
前例に倣うぜんれいにならうto follow precedent

Example sentences

  1. 先輩のやり方に倣って書類を作った。

    せんぱいのやりかたにならってしょるいをつくった。

    I prepared the documents following my senior's method.

  2. 模倣ではなく独自の工夫が必要だ。

    もほうではなくどくじのくふうがひつようだ。

    What is needed is original thinking, not imitation.

  3. 海外の模倣品が市場に出回っている。

    かいがいのもほうひんがしじょうにでまわっている。

    Foreign knock-offs are circulating in the market.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 倣う (to imitate, follow an example) with 習う (to learn from a teacher) — both ならう
  • Reading 模倣 as もぼう — it is もほう

Memory aid

Picture it

A person 亻 next to 放 (let fly): you watch the move someone else lets fly, and do the same — imitate.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 倣 mean?