If one thing is akin to another, it is very like it — not the same, but in the same family of feelings or ideas. The noise was akin to a growl.

If one thing is akin to another如果一件事物akin to（近似於）另一件, it is very like it就是說它跟那件事非常相像 — not the same但不是完全一樣, but in the same family of feelings or ideas而是屬於同一種感覺或想法的家族。The noise那個聲音 was akin to a growl就像是低吼聲一樣。

You almost always say akin to, not akin plus a noun with nothing in between. The word is a step more formal than like or similar; you meet it in writing and in careful speech.

You almost always say akin to你幾乎都要說akin to, not akin plus a noun with nothing in between而不會讓akin直接接名詞、中間不加to。The word這個字 than like or similar比like或similar is a step more formal要正式一點; you meet it in writing and in careful speech你會在書面和講究的口語裡遇到它。

Though actually, it started as family talk: it comes from of kin, meaning related by blood. You can still use that older sense (the two families are akin), but most people now mean similar.

Though actually不過其實, it started as family talk它一開始是講家族關係的字: it comes from of kin它來自of kin, meaning related by blood意思是有血緣關係。You can still use that older sense你還是可以用這個舊的意思 (the two families are akin)（像the two families are akin，這兩個家族有血緣關係）, but most people now mean similar不過現在大多數人講的是「相似」。

It never means the two things are exactly equal, and it is a bit odd for comparing two physical objects in a shop; it likes feelings, jobs, styles, and situations.

It它 never means the two things are exactly equal從來不表示兩者完全相等, and it is a bit odd for comparing two physical objects in a shop用來比較店裡兩個實體物品也有點怪; it likes feelings, jobs, styles, and situations它比較適合用在感覺、工作、風格和情境上。