真似る
まねる · maneru · JLPT N2 · verb-ichidan
to imitate
🦜 真 (true) + 似る (resemble) = make a true resemblance, i.e. mimic
Parrots are famous mimics, which fits まねる. The kanji 真 means true and 似 means resemble, so 真似 is copying someone closely.
真 — 匕 (spoon) over 目 (eye) over 八 (eight/base)
真 originally depicted a person or vessel used in ritual, conveying the idea of something genuine or true. Over time the form was reanalyzed as components like 匕, 目, and a base, but the core meaning of 'real, true, genuine' has remained stable since early bronze inscriptions.