大同小异 (dà tóng xiǎo yì) — virtually the same, differing only in minor det…

Definition

Means 'mostly the same, with only small differences' — not a perfect match. 一模一样 is an exact carbon copy; 大同小异 allows for minor variation.

phrase

virtually the samediffering only in minor details

大同小异，。
Zhè liǎng kuǎn shǒu jī dà tóng xiǎo yì, zhǐ shì yán sè bù tóng.
These two phone models are virtually the same, just different in color.
大同小异，。
Tā men de yì jiàn dà tóng xiǎo yì, zhǐ shì biǎo dá fāng shì bù tóng.
Their opinions are virtually the same, just expressed differently.
大同小异，。
Zhè liǎng jiā gōng sī dà tóng xiǎo yì, yè wù jī hū yí yàng.
These two companies are virtually the same; their business is almost identical.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

大同largely same

偏正Modifier + head

小异minor differences

偏正Modifier + head

大同 means largely the same and 小异 means minor differences, describing near identity.

Characters in this word

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

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

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

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

田共異

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Appears in