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势均力敌 (shì jūn lì dí) — to be evenly matched; to be equal in strength

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning both sides are evenly matched, with no clear winner. Used for contests, rivals, or teams of comparable strength.

idiom
to be evenly matchedto be equal in strength

Examples

  • 势均力敌，。
    Zhè chǎng jué sài shuāng fāng shì jūn lì dí, zhí dào zuì hòu yì fēn zhōng cái fēn chū shèng fù.
    The two sides were evenly matched in this final, and the outcome was not decided until the last minute.
  • 势均力敌，。
    Liǎng wèi hòu xuǎn rén shì jūn lì dí, xuǎn qíng fēi cháng jiāo zhuó.
    The two candidates are evenly matched, and the election is very tight.
  • 势均力敌，。
    Zhè liǎng zhī qiú duì shì jūn lì dí, shuí yíng dōu bú yì wài.
    These two teams are evenly matched; either side winning would not be a surprise.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

势均power equal
势shìpower均jūnequal
主谓Subject + predicate
力敌strength match
力lìstrength敌dímatch
主谓Subject + predicate

「势」 means power, 「均」 equal, 「力」 strength, and 「敌」 match, saying power and strength are equal.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勢; 势 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìpower
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì勢shì
Same sound today

The traditional form 勢 combines 力, meaning power, with 埶 for the sound. The simplified 势 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 势 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
匀
匀yún均jūn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

均 pairs 土 (earth) with 匀, which gives it its sound.

Open 均 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 敵; 敌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pūto tap; to hit
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì敵dí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 敵 pairs 啻 as a sound part with 攴, a part for tapping or hitting.

Open 敌 →
Appears in
Comparison & DegreeIdioms & Set Phrases

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