每天成语
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不相上下

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

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: bù xiāng shàng xià
  • English Translation: On par with each other (neck and neck)
  • Idiom Composition: 「不」（Not (negation)）＋「相」（Mutually or each other）＋「上」（Above, superior, or higher）＋「下」（Below, inferior, or lower）
  • Meaning: A state where the level, strength, or quantity of two subjects are nearly identical, making it impossible to distinguish which is superior or inferior.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「不相上下」 contains the following nuances:

  • Absence of Superiority or Inferiority: Literally meaning 'no up and no down,' it indicates that there is no significant gap or distinction in quality between two entities.
  • Broad Applicability: It can be applied to anything that can be compared, including skills, quantities, degrees, status, or performance.
  • Neutral Evaluation: It is a factual statement of equality. It does not inherently carry a positive or negative tone, making it safer to use than idioms that imply 'equally bad' quality.

3. Usage

「不相上下」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Comparison of ability or skill: The most common usage, describing rivals in sports, exams, or professional skills who are evenly matched.
    • Example:「这两支球队的实力不相上下，很难预测谁会赢得冠军。」
      （The strength of these two teams is neck and neck, making it hard to predict who will win the championship.）
  • Comparison of quantity or degree: Used to objectively state that prices, temperatures, or technical specifications are nearly the same.
    • Example:「虽然品牌不同，但这两种电脑的性能和价格都不相上下。」
      （Although the brands are different, the performance and price of these two computers are about the same.）
  • Deadlocked arguments or competitions: Describes a situation where a debate or struggle continues without a clear winner.
    • Example:「关于这个方案，支持者和反对者争论得不相上下。」
      （Regarding this proposal, the supporters and opponents are equally matched in their debate.）

Additional Examples:

  1. 他和我的英语水平不相上下，都能流利地与外国人交流。
    （His English level and mine are on par with each other; we can both communicate fluently with foreigners.）
  2. 这次考试，全班同学的成绩都不相上下，竞争非常激烈。
    （In this exam, the grades of everyone in the class were evenly matched, and the competition was very intense.）
  3. 这两家餐厅的味道不相上下，去哪一家都可以。
    （The taste of these two restaurants is hard to tell apart, so you can go to either one.）
  4. 在古代，这两个国家的军事力量不相上下。
    （In ancient times, the military power of these two countries was roughly equal.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Distinction from similar expressions: A similar idiom is 半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng), which literally means 'half a pound and eight ounces.' However, 半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng) is often used negatively to mean 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' (implying both are equally mediocre). In contrast, 不相上下 (bù xiāng shàng xià) is neutral and can describe high-level excellence.
  • Historical Origin: This phrase appears in Tang Dynasty (唐朝) literature, such as the Supplement to the History of the Tang State (唐国史补), and has been used for centuries to discuss the relative merits of people and things.
  • Usage Frequency: This is a very common expression in modern Chinese, used in both formal writing and daily conversation. It is typically used in the structure 'A and B are 不相上下 (bù xiāng shàng xià).'

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

不相上下 (bù xiāng shàng xià) is a versatile idiom used to describe two things that are **equally matched**. Unlike some idioms that imply a negative comparison, this phrase is neutral and can be used for objective comparisons or even as a compliment. It literally means 'no above and no below,' indicating a lack of a gap between the two parties being compared.

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