TypeDiagnostic structureMalfūfSeveral subjects followed by their several comparisonsMafrūqEach subject placed with its own comparisonTaswiyaSeveral subjects share one comparison termJamʿOne subject has several comparison terms
Illustrative patterns:
“Zayd and Amr resemble a lion and a leopard respectively” — enfolded if two pairings are intended.
“Zayd is a lion and Amr a leopard” — separated.
“Zayd and Amr are both lion-like” — taswiya.
“Zayd resembles both a lion and a mountain” — jamʿ, if separate resemblances are intended.
Always ask how many subjects, how many comparison terms, and in what order they appear.