This is the 5076th most frequent Japanese word.
見立てる
"見立てる" means "to select, to diagnose, or to liken something to something else."
The word 見立てる is used to describe the act of interpreting or perceiving something as something else, focusing on imaginative perception or comparison.
彼はその絵を風景に見立てた。
He perceived the painting as a landscape.
Here, 見立てる is utilized to signify the act of mentally or emotionally associating a person with a specific role or concept, emphasizing emotional interpretation.
彼女は友人を家族に見立てている。
She considers her friend as family.
In this sentence, 見立てる conveys the meaning of being designed or conceptualized based on the appearance or functionality of something else, often implying intentional imitation.