noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
resemblance; likeness; similarity
General term for things being alike in appearance, shape, or nature. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to resemble'.
この二つの絵は驚くほど相似している。
These two paintings resemble each other surprisingly closely.
双子の兄弟には顔の相似が見られる。
You can see a resemblance in the faces of the twin brothers.
noun, na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Mathematical term for geometric similarity (same shape, different size). Also used adjectivally with な or の.
相似な図形の面積比は相似比の二乗に等しい。
The ratio of areas of similar figures equals the square of the similarity ratio.
この三角形はあの三角形と相似だ。
This triangle is similar to that triangle.
noun
analogy; homology
Biological term for similarity due to shared ancestry (homology) or functional convergence (analogy). Often contrasted with 相同 (homology).
See also: 相同
コウモリの翼と鳥の翼は相似の例である。
The wings of bats and birds are an example of analogy.
相似器官は相同器官と区別される。
Analogous organs are distinguished from homologous organs.