sì似seemcéng曾oncexiāng相mutuallyshí识know
Seemingly familiar; déjà vu.
Literal meaning
seem (似) — once (曾) — mutually (相) — know (识)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a feeling of familiarity.
Examples
Zhè这ge个dì地fang方ràng让wǒ我jué觉de得sì似céng曾xiāng相shí识。
This place feels strangely familiar to me.
Suī虽rán然wǒ我dì第yī一cì次jiàn见dào到tā她，dàn但què却yǒu有yī一zhǒng种sì似céng曾xiāng相shí识de的gǎn感jué觉。
Although it was the first time I met her, I had a feeling of déjà vu.
Usage & nuances
Often used to describe a mysterious or inexplicable feeling of familiarity.
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