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不可同日而语

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ
  • English Translation: Cannot be mentioned in the same breath (poles apart)
  • Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not; used here to negate the possibility of comparison.）＋「可」（Can or may; indicates the ability to do something.）＋「同日」（The same day; metaphorically refers to the same time, level, or context.）＋「而」（A conjunction used here to connect the condition to the action of speaking.）＋「语」（To speak, discuss, or mention.）
  • Meaning: A state where two things or people are so vastly different in quality, scale, or level—often due to significant progress or change over time—that they cannot be compared or discussed as equals.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不可同日而语」 contains the following nuances:

  • Overwhelming Disparity: This idiom implies more than just a simple difference; it suggests a gap in quality, quantity, or level so vast that the two subjects are effectively in different worlds.
  • Emphasis on Temporal Change: As the phrase includes 同日 (tóng rì), it is particularly effective when comparing the 'past' and 'present' to show how much progress has been made.

3. Usage

「不可同日而语」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Evaluating Growth or Development: Frequently used to praise how economic strength, technology, or individual abilities have reached a level far superior to what they once were.
    • Example:「现在的中国经济实力与四十年前相比，早已不可同日而语。」
      （China's current economic strength is not even in the same league as it was forty years ago.）
  • Emphasizing a Difference in Class: Used when comparing two different objects to point out that one is overwhelmingly superior or exists on a completely different level.
    • Example:「虽然都是智能手机，但这两种型号的性能简直不可同日而语。」
      （Although both are smartphones, the performance of these two models is poles apart.）
  • Drastic Change in Circumstances: Can be used objectively to describe how a situation has changed dramatically, whether for better or worse.
    • Example:「遭受灾害后，这座城市的繁荣景象已与往日不可同日而语。」
      （After the disaster, the city's prosperity was no longer comparable to its former glory.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 他经过几年的苦练，现在的棋艺与当初不可同日而语。
    （After years of hard practice, his chess skills are now beyond comparison to when he first started.）
  2. 这家公司的规模已经扩大了十倍，与创业初期不可同日而语。
    （The scale of this company has expanded tenfold and is night and day compared to its early days.）
  3. 业余选手的水平和职业冠军自然是不可同日而语的。
    （The skill level of an amateur player and a professional champion cannot be mentioned in the same breath.）
  4. 随着科技的进步，现代医疗水平与过去不可同日而语。
    （With the advancement of technology, modern medical standards are incomparably better than in the past.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Source: This idiom originates from the Strategies of the Warring States (战国策 - Zhàn guó Cè), specifically in the 'Strategies of Zhao' (赵策). It was originally phrased as a rhetorical question: 'How could one discuss these in the same day?'
  • Evolution of Nuance: In its original historical context, it was used to contrast the power dynamics between winners and losers or rulers and subjects. In modern usage, it has shifted to focus on progress, technological advancement, and general disparity.
  • Usage Frequency: It is a sophisticated and somewhat formal expression often favored in news editorials, business presentations, and academic writing to dramatically illustrate growth or change.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

The idiom 不可同日而语 (bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ) is used to describe an overwhelming disparity between two subjects, making a direct comparison impossible. It is most frequently used to highlight how much a person's skills have improved or how a situation has drastically changed from the past to the present. It carries a formal tone, similar to the English expressions "night and day" or "not in the same league."

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