Meaning
倣 means to imitate, to copy, or to model oneself after someone or something. It describes a deliberate act — following another's example, replicating an established pattern, or adopting a method based on an existing model. Japanese traditional arts have long treated imitation as a virtue. The process even has a name: 守破離 (shuhari) — first copy the master exactly, then adapt, then go beyond. Skill begins with faithful copying, not invention.
Structurally, 倣 is built from two parts: the person radical 亻 (にんべん, ninben) on the left, and 放 (ほう, hō) — meaning to release — on the right. The combination suggests a person who lets go of their own instincts to follow another's way. That image maps directly onto how the kanji is actually used in literature, legal texts, and academic writing.
In modern Japanese, 倣 appears most often in the formal compound 模倣 (もほう, mohō) — imitation or mimicry — spanning art criticism, developmental psychology, intellectual property law, and criminal justice. The character has 10 strokes and is a secondary school Jōyō kanji, essential for JLPT N1. Knowing it opens up a broad range of formal vocabulary used in essays, legal documents, and academic prose.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
ホウ (Hō) is 倣's only on'yomi — found in compounds, never as a standalone word. It derives from Middle Chinese and appears mainly in formal, academic, or technical vocabulary. Whenever 倣 turns up inside a compound word, the reading is almost certainly ホウ.
- 模倣 (mohō) — imitation, mimicry; the core compound of this kanji, used across art, psychology, law, and commerce
- 模倣犯 (mohōhan) — copycat criminal; someone who commits a crime directly inspired by a widely reported offense
- 模倣品 (mohōhin) — counterfeit goods; products manufactured to pass as genuine branded merchandise
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is ならう (narau), used as the verb 倣う. It means to follow someone's example, to model behavior after another, or to act according to established custom. One common point of confusion: the homophone 習う is written with a different kanji and means "to learn a skill through practice." 習う is about acquiring ability through repetition; 倣う is about consciously following a model. N1 passages sometimes place both in the same paragraph — the distinction matters and shows up in reading comprehension questions.
- 先例に倣う (senrei ni narau) — to follow precedent; to act in line with an established practice
- 慣例に倣う (kanrei ni narau) — to follow custom or convention; to adhere to established social norms
- 師に倣う (shi ni narau) — to model oneself after one's teacher
Common Words & Compounds
Most 倣 vocabulary splits into two groups: copying something (a style, a product, a behavior) and following something (precedent, custom, a teacher's form). Below are the key compounds across formal writing, academic usage, and everyday educated speech.
Imitation and Copying
- 模倣 (mohō) — imitation, mimicry; the central compound, used across art, psychology, law, and commerce
- 模倣品 (mohōhin) — counterfeit goods; unauthorized copies designed to pass as genuine originals
- 模倣作 (mohōsaku) — imitative work, pastiche; a creative piece that consciously copies another's style or content
- 単純模倣 (tanjun mohō) — simple imitation; copying without original creative contribution or personal interpretation
Social, Legal, and Historical Contexts
- 模倣犯 (mohōhan) — copycat criminal; someone who commits a crime inspired by a high-profile case
- 西洋に倣う (seiyō ni narau) — to follow the Western model; a phrase tied to Japan's rapid modernization during the Meiji era
- 前例に倣う (zenrei ni narau) — to follow prior example; to proceed according to past precedent in a formal or official context
Verb Forms and Set Phrases
- 倣う (narau) — to imitate, to follow the example of; the standard verb form of this kanji
- 先人に倣う (senjin ni narau) — to follow in the footsteps of one's predecessors; to carry on inherited traditions
- 師匠に倣い (shishō ni narai) — following one's master's example; common in traditional arts and crafts training
Example Sentences
この絵は有名な名画に倣って描かれた。
Kono e wa yūmei na meiga ni naratte kakareta.
This painting was created in imitation of a famous masterpiece.
子供は親の行動を模倣することが多い。
Kodomo wa oya no kōdō wo mohō suru koto ga ōi.
Children often imitate their parents' behavior.
先例に倣い、新しい規則を設けた。
Senrei ni narai, atarashii kisoku wo mōketa.
Following precedent, we established a new rule.
その事件の後、模倣犯が相次いで現れた。
Sono jiken no ato, mohōhan ga aitsuite arawareta.
After that incident, copycat criminals appeared one after another.
明治時代、日本は西洋の制度に倣い、急速に近代化を進めた。
Meiji jidai, Nihon wa seiyō no seido ni narai, kyūsoku ni kindaika wo susumeta.
During the Meiji era, Japan rapidly advanced its modernization by modeling itself after Western institutions.
この模倣品は本物と見分けがつかないほどよくできている。
Kono mohōhin wa honmono to miwake ga tsukanai hodo yoku dekite iru.
This counterfeit product is made so well that it is nearly indistinguishable from the genuine article.
師匠の型に倣うことが芸の基本だと彼は繰り返した。
Shishō no kata ni narau koto ga gei no kihon da to kare wa kurikaeshita.
He repeatedly insisted that following the master's form is the very foundation of artistic practice.
単純な模倣ではなく、自分なりの解釈を加えることが創造への第一歩だ。
Tanjun na mohō de wa naku, jibun nari no kaishaku wo kuwaeru koto ga sōzō e no dai-ippo da.
Rather than simple imitation, adding one's own interpretation is the first step toward true creativity.
他社の成功に倣い、我々も新しいマーケティング戦略を導入した。
Tasha no seikō ni narai, wareware mo atarashii māketingu senryaku wo dōnyū shita.
Following the success of other companies, we also introduced a new marketing strategy.
彼女は憧れの作家の文体に倣って小説を書き始めた。
Kanojo wa akogare no sakka no buntai ni naratte shōsetsu wo kaki hajimeta.
She began writing novels in imitation of the writing style of her admired author.
Memory Tip
Break 倣 into its two parts: the person radical 亻 on the left and 放 (to release) on the right. Picture a young apprentice watching a master calligrapher — hand frozen mid-stroke — trying to release every personal habit and just copy the form exactly. That is 倣: a person who releases their own way to follow another's. For the on'yomi ホウ, anchor it to 模倣. That compound appears constantly in N1 reading passages — once it sticks, you'll recognize 倣 anywhere.