不相上下

bù xiāng shàng xià

  • Meaning

    Literal

    To not be able to distinguish the top from the bottom

    Usage

    To be about the same; to have a very small difference

  • Connotation

    Neutral

  • Usage Examples

    两人的武功不相上下 | Liǎng rén de wǔgōng bùxiāngshàngxià
    Their martial arts skills are about the same
    [Source]

    他们必须从两个不相上下的候选人中选出州长 | Tāmen bìxū cóng liǎng gè bùxiāngshàngxià de hòuxuǎn rén zhòng xuǎn chū zhōuzhǎng
    They must pick the next governor from two very similar candidates
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    None

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    This is an HSK chengyu

  • Origin

    《蠹化》(Dù Huà), a work by Táng Dynasty (唐, 618 - 907) poet 陆龟蒙 (Lù Guī Méng)

  • Story

    This chengyu is from a line in the work listed in the "Origin" section above

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]