伯仲 (bó zhòng) — (literary) eldest and second-eldest brothers; (in 伯仲之间) much the same, comparable, neck-and-neck

Definition

Literary set phrase, used almost only in 伯仲之间 to mean 'about the same, hard to tell apart'. Far more formal than everyday words like 差不多 or 不相上下.

noun
(literary) eldest and second-eldest brothers(in 伯仲之间) much the samecomparableneck-and-neck

Examples

  • 伯仲。
    Zhè liǎng gè xuǎn shǒu de shuǐ píng zài bó zhòng zhī jiān.
    The skill levels of these two contestants are about the same.
  • 伯仲。
    Liǎng jiā gōng sī de shí lì nán fēn bó zhòng.
    The strengths of the two companies are hard to tell apart.
  • 伯仲，。
    Tā men de qí yì zài bó zhòng zhī jiān, bù fēn gāo xià.
    Their chess skills are comparable, with no clear winner.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

伯bóeldest brother
仲zhòngsecond brother

伯 names the eldest brother and 仲 the second, so together they express close rank.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái伯bó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

伯 pairs 人 (person) with 白, which gives its sound.

Open 伯 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng仲zhòng
Same sound today

In 仲, the left part is 亻, a person, and the right part is 中, used for its sound.

Open 仲 →

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