I think the similarity ends when you consider functions with more than 2 arguments. Let's compare a 2 argument function with a 3 argument function:

  @partial
  def f3(x, y, z):
    return (x, y, z)
  
  @partial
  def f2(x, y):
    return (x, y)

A curried version of f2 would look like:

  curried_f2 = lambda x: lambda y: f2(x, y)
  curried_f2(1)(2) == (1, 2)

Currying produces a chain of functions which each take one argument. So its true for f2 that currying and the partial decorator are similar:

  curried_f2(1) == f2(1, _) == f2(..., x=1)

as you pointed out.

But now consider the 3 argument case:

  curried_f3 = lambda x: lambda y: lambda z: f3(x, y, z)
  curried_f3(1) != f3(1, _, _)

this is because f(1, _, _) takes two arguments whereas curried_f3(1) takes one.