如出一辙

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: rú chū yī zhé
• English Translation: Coming from the same rut (exactly the same)
• Idiom Composition: 「如」（as if; like）＋「出」（to come out; to emerge）＋「一」（one; the same）＋「辙」（wheel track; rut）
• Meaning: Literally meaning 'as if coming out of the same wheel track,' this idiom describes two things—such as actions, methods, or results—that are so strikingly similar they appear to follow the exact same pattern.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「如出一辙」 contains the following nuances:

• High Degree of Similarity: This idiom goes beyond 'looking alike'; it suggests that the things being compared are identical in their internal structure, logic, or the way they were executed.
• Neutral to Critical Nuance: While it can be used neutrally to describe historical patterns, it often carries a critical tone, suggesting a lack of creativity, a failure to learn from the past, or a suspicious level of agreement.

3. Usage

「如出一辙」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Suspicious Consistency: Used when the words or actions of multiple people are so identical that it suggests they may have colluded or coordinated in secret.
  • Example:「这两个嫌疑人的供词如出一辙，警察怀疑他们早就串通好了。」
    （The statements of these two suspects are exactly the same, leading the police to suspect they colluded beforehand.）
• Historical or Pattern Repetition: Used to point out that a current situation or failure is following the exact same path as a past event.
  • Example:「这次金融危机的爆发原因，与十年前的那次简直如出一辙。」
    （The causes of this financial crisis are virtually identical to those of the one ten years ago.）
• Lack of Originality: Used to describe creative works or methods that are indistinguishable from others, implying a lack of new ideas.
  • Example:「这两部电影的情节设定如出一辙，缺乏新意。」
    （The plot settings of these two movies are cut from the same cloth, lacking any sense of novelty.）

Additional Examples:

1. 虽然他们来自不同的国家，但对这个问题的看法却如出一辙。
   （Although they come from different countries, their views on this issue are strikingly similar.）
2. 这种推卸责任的态度，与他前任的做法如出一辙。
   （This attitude of shifting responsibility is exactly the same as his predecessor's approach.）
3. 历史上很多悲剧的发生过程往往如出一辙。
   （The process by which many historical tragedies occur is often the same.）
4. 这两款软件的界面设计如出一辙，很难分辨。
   （The interface designs of these two software programs are so similar that it is hard to tell them apart.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom comes from the essay collection Rongzhai Suibi (容斋随笔) by the Song Dynasty scholar Hong Mai (洪迈). He analyzed the failures of four historical generals and noted that they all failed because they became arrogant after their successes, describing their paths to ruin as 如出一辙 (rú chū yī zhé).
• The Rut Metaphor: In ancient China, carriages were the primary mode of transportation. Because carriages were built with a standard axle width, they would leave deep ruts (辙 - zhé) in the dirt roads. A carriage following the same path would naturally fall into the same 'rut,' leading to the metaphor of following the same pattern or reaching the same result.
• Nuance Comparison: While the idiom 一模一样 (yī mú yī yàng) is used for things that look identical (like they came from the same mold), 如出一辙 (rú chū yī zhé) is more often used for abstract things like ideas, behaviors, or historical events that follow the same logical path.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一模一样 (yī mú yī yàng): Exactly the same; as if cast from the same mold (often used for physical appearance).link
  • 大同小异 (dà tóng xiǎo yì): Largely identical but with minor differences.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大相径庭 (dà xiāng jìng tíng): To be totally different; as far apart as a courtyard and a path.link
  • 迥然不同 (jiǒng rán bù tóng): Utterly different; widely divergent.
  • 截然不同 (jié rán bù tóng): Completely different; poles apart.link

6. Summary

如出一辙 (rú chū yī zhé) is used to describe situations where different events or behaviors are nearly identical, as if they were cast from the same mold. Beyond mere physical resemblance, it emphasizes that the underlying logic, methodology, or historical pattern is the same. It is frequently used when discussing historical repetitions, suspicious similarities in testimony, or a lack of originality in creative works.