如

The Chinese character 如 (rú) is composed of two parts: the radical ⺮ (rén), which means "person," and the phonetic component 需 (xū), which is pronounced similarly to 如. The original meaning of 如 was "to resemble" or "to be like," which is still one of its most common meanings today. For example, the phrase 如出一辙 (rú chū yī zhé) means "as if made from the same mold," and the phrase 如火如荼 (rú huǒ rú tú) means "as fierce as fire and as hot as boiling water."In addition to its original meaning, 如 has also developed a number of other meanings over time. For example, it can also mean "to agree" or "to comply," as in the phrase 如愿以偿 (rú yuàn yǐ cháng), which means "to get what one wishes for." It can also mean "to be suitable" or "to be appropriate," as in the phrase 如鱼得水 (rú yú dé shuǐ), which means "like a fish in water" (i.e., perfectly suited to one's environment).The character 如 is also used in a number of idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 如坐针毡 (rú zuò zhēn zhān) means "to feel like sitting on pins and needles," and the proverb 近朱者赤, 近墨者黑 (jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi) means "those who are close to vermilion become red, and those who are close to ink become black" (i.e., one's environment can have a significant impact on one's character).Overall, the character 如 is a versatile and important character in the Chinese language. It has a rich history and a wide range of meanings, and it is used in a variety of contexts.