模拟
mónǐ · HSK 7
simulate
🪞 模 = mould/model + 拟 = to draft/imitate; together = simulate
模 is the mould or pattern a thing is cast from; 拟 means to draft or copy. Put them together and you make a copy of the pattern, i.e. imitate or simulate. Sound-alike for mónǐ: more knee.
拟 — hand radical 扌 + 疑 yí (doubt/phonetic)
拟 is a semantic-phonetic compound: the hand radical 扌 suggests an action, while 疑 supplies the sound. It originally meant to plan or draft by hand, and extended to 'imitate, compare, draw up.' 拟 is the simplified form of 擬.