大相径庭

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dà xiāng jìng tíng
• English Translation: Vastly different (poles apart)
• Idiom Composition: 「大」（Greatly; significantly）＋「相」（Mutually; to each other）＋「径」（A small path or track outside a gate）＋「庭」（A courtyard or front hall of a house）
• Meaning: Describes a situation where two things, opinions, or outcomes are extremely different or poles apart. It emphasizes a significant gap or discrepancy, suggesting that the two subjects are as far apart as a path outside a gate and an inner courtyard.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「大相径庭」 contains the following nuances:

• The Spatial Metaphor of Path and Courtyard: In this idiom, 径 (jìng) refers to the path outside the gate, while 庭 (tíng) refers to the courtyard in front of the main hall. Because these two areas are spatially separated, they became a metaphor for things that are widely divergent or inconsistent.
• Comparative Context: This idiom is almost always used in a comparative context involving two subjects (A and B). The most common grammatical structure is 'A 与 (yǔ) B 大相径庭,' meaning 'A and B are vastly different.'

3. Usage

「大相径庭」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Disagreement in opinions: Used when the views or claims of two parties are completely incompatible or opposite during a discussion or meeting.
  • Example:「虽然他们是双胞胎，但在政治观点上却大相径庭。」
    （Although they are twins, they are poles apart in their political views.）
• Discrepancy between expectation and reality: Used when the actual outcome of an event is significantly different from what was previously predicted or expected.
  • Example:「实际的销售额与我们年初的预测大相径庭。」
    （The actual sales figures were vastly different from the forecast we made at the beginning of the year.）
• Difference in nature or style: A formal expression used to explain that the nature of two works, cultures, or habits is fundamentally different.
  • Example:「这两本书虽然题目相似，但内容风格大相径庭。」
    （Although these two books have similar titles, their content styles are worlds apart.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他的生活方式与传统的价值观大相径庭。
   （His lifestyle is completely at odds with traditional values.）
2. 这两个方案的预算大相径庭，我们需要仔细比较。
   （The budgets for these two proposals are vastly different, so we need to compare them carefully.）
3. 事实真相往往与流言蜚语大相径庭。
   （The truth is often poles apart from rumors and gossip.）
4. 现在的气候条件与五十年前相比已经大相径庭。
   （Current climate conditions are already vastly different compared to fifty years ago.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Source: This idiom originates from the 'Free and Easy Wandering' (逍遥游 - Xiāoyáo Yóu) chapter of the Zhuangzi (庄子). It originally appeared as 大有径庭 (dà yǒu jìng tíng), describing a story that was so far-fetched it felt as distant as the space between a gate-path and a courtyard.
• Usage Note: 大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng) specifically emphasizes a large gap or contradiction. It is not used to simply say things are 'unrelated'; it requires a basis for comparison between two entities.
• Writing Tip: Be careful not to confuse 庭 (tíng - courtyard) with the similar-sounding 廷 (tíng - royal court) when writing the characters.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 截然不同 (jié rán bù tóng): Completely different, as if separated by a sharp cut.link
  • 天壤之别 (tiān rǎng zhī bié): A difference as vast as that between heaven and earth; a world of difference.
  • 恰恰相反 (qià qià xiāng fǎn): It is exactly the opposite.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大同小异 (dà tóng xiǎo yì): Largely identical but with minor differences.
  • 如出一辙 (rú chū yī zhé): As if coming from the same wheel track; exactly the same in method or result.link
  • 一模一样 (yī mú yī yàng): Exactly alike; exactly the same.link

6. Summary

The idiom 大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng) is used to describe two things that are worlds apart. It highlights a fundamental divergence rather than a minor variation. It is commonly used to describe conflicting opinions, discrepancies between expectations and reality, or contrasting styles.