alike

Compared meaning: similar, almost the same (adjective).

比较义项：相似的，几乎相同（形容词）。

• like

  Functions as a preposition followed directly by a noun or pronoun ('like his brother'), never with 'to'; common in the pattern look/sound/act like someone.

  作为介词使用，后面直接跟名词或代词（如“like his brother”），不能加 to；常用于 look/sound/act like someone 这类结构中。

  He looks a lot like his older brother.

  他看起来很像他哥哥。

• similar

  A standard adjective that can sit before a noun ('similar taste') or link two things with 'to' ('similar to X'); more formal and neutral than like or alike.

  是标准形容词，可放在名词前作定语（如“similar taste”），也可用 to 连接两个比较对象（如“similar to X”）；比 like 或 alike 更正式、中性。

  My sister and I have similar taste in music.

  我姐姐和我在音乐品味上很相似。

• alike 本词

  A predicate adjective used only after linking verbs like look, dress, or sound with a plural or joint subject ('The twins dress alike'); cannot be followed by a noun or 'to'.

  是表语形容词，只能用在系动词（如 look、dress、sound）之后，主语通常是复数或并列结构（如“The twins dress alike”）；后面不能接名词或 to。

  The twins dress alike so people often confuse them.

  这对双胞胎穿着打扮很相似，所以人们经常把他们弄混。

Like, similar, and alike all mean similar, but their grammar differs. Like is a preposition placed before a noun, never with 'to'. Similar is a standard adjective, used before a noun or with 'to'. Alike is used only after linking verbs like look or dress.

这三个词都表示“相似”，但用法结构不同：like 作为介词，后面直接跟名词或代词，不能加 to；similar 是标准形容词，通常与 to 连用（similar to something），也可以直接放在名词前作定语；alike 是表语形容词，只能放在系动词（look、dress、seem 等）之后，且主语通常是复数或并列结构，不能接宾语。这里不比较 like 作动词表示“喜欢”的用法。