似る
にる
to resemble, to be similar
Niru (似る) is an ichidan verb meaning "to resemble, to be similar". Its polite form is 似ます (nimasu), its te form is 似て (nite), its past form is 似た (nita), and its negative form is 似ない (ninai).
Ichidan verbJLPT N4
Niru (似る) conjugation quick reference
似る means "to resemble, to be similar". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Niru example sentences
My younger sister really resembles my mother.
Your way of thinking is not at all similar to mine.
Yesterday, my friend told me I looked like him.
How to use Niru: grammar notes
•似る usually uses the particle に to show what someone or something resembles — for example, 母に似ている means "I look like my mother."
•Don’t use を with 似る — it's not about doing something to someone, but showing similarity to them.
•You can use と to compare two things when saying they are similar — like この服はあの服と似ている ("This outfit is similar to that one").
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Niru
顔が似ている（かおが にている）
Their faces look alike / They resemble each other
母に似ている（ははに にている）
I look like my mother / I resemble my mother
兄弟は性格が似ている（きょうだいは せいかくが にている）
The siblings have similar personalities
Niru (似る) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 似る | niru |
| Masu Form | 似ます | nimasu |
| Te Form | 似て | nite |
| Past Form | 似た | nita |
| Negative Form | 似ない | ninai |
| Past Negative | 似なかった | ninakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 似ます | nimasu |
| Polite Past | 似ました | nimashita |
| Polite Negative | 似ません | nimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 似ませんでした | nimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 似られる | nirareru |
| Passive Form | 似られる | nirareru |
| Causative Form | 似させる | nisaseru |
| Causative Passive | 似させられる | nisaserareru |
| Volitional Form | 似よう | niyou |
| Imperative Form | 似ろ | niro |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 似れば | nireba |
| Conditional (たら) | 似たら | nitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 似ている | niteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 似たい | nitai |
| Prohibition | 似るな | niruna |