Meaning and Usage
The verb 真似る (まねる) means "to mimic" or "to imitate." It is commonly used when someone copies another person's behavior, speech, or actions, either playfully or seriously.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 真似る in everyday conversations about children copying adults, people imitating styles or habits, or when learning by copying successful examples.
Collocations and Patterns
- 真似る + 行動 (まねる + こうどう): to imitate behavior
- 真似る + 話し方 (まねる + はなしかた): to mimic someone's way of speaking
- ～のやり方を真似る: to imitate someone's method or way
Register and Nuance
真似る is neutral in politeness and can be used in casual and formal contexts. It can carry a playful tone when used among friends or a serious tone when referring to learning or copying skills.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 真似る with 似る (にる), which means "to resemble." Remember, 真似る is an active action of copying, while 似る describes similarity without intentional copying.