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有所不同 (yǒu suǒ bù tóng) — to be somewhat different

Definition

A set phrase used to politely note that two things are not exactly the same, usually before contrasting them. Softer and more hedged than 完全不同 (“completely different”).

idiom
to be somewhat different

Examples

  • 有所不同，。
    Zhè liǎng gè fāng àn yǒu suǒ bù tóng, dàn dōu néng jiě jué wèn tí.
    These two plans are somewhat different, but both can solve the problem.
  • 有所不同。
    Tā de kàn fǎ yǔ wǒ de yǒu suǒ bù tóng.
    His opinion is somewhat different from mine.
  • 有所不同，。
    Suī rán jié guǒ yǒu suǒ bù tóng, dàn guò chéng hěn xiāng sì.
    Although the results are somewhat different, the process is very similar.

Origin

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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.

Open 同 →
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