相差无几 (xiāng chā wú jǐ) — about the same; not much difference

Definition

Idiom meaning 'the difference is negligible' — used to say two things are essentially the same. Slightly more formal than the plain 差不多.

idiom
about the samenot much difference

Examples

  • 相差无几，。
    Zhè liǎng gè fāng àn xiāng chā wú jǐ, hěn nán xuǎn zé.
    There's not much difference between these two plans; it's hard to choose.
  • 相差无几，。
    Tā men de shuǐ píng xiāng chā wú jǐ, dōu shì gāo shǒu.
    Their skill levels are about equal; both are masters.
  • 相差无几，。
    Suī rán jià gé xiāng chā wú jǐ, dàn zhì liàng wán quán bù tóng.
    Although the prices are nearly the same, the quality is completely different.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

相差mutual difference
相xiāngmutually差chàdiffer
偏正Modifier + head
无几not much
无wúnot have几jǐmuch
动宾Verb + object

相差 (mutual difference) is 无几 (not much), so the two are about equal.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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

  • 來來láiwheat
  • 𠂇𠂇𠂇left hand

差 pairs 來 (wheat) with 𠂇 (left hand), showing wheat rubbed in a hand to remove its hull.

Open 差 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 幾; 几 is its simplified writing.

  • 𢆶𢆶𢆶silk threads; little things
  • 戍戍shùto guard against

The traditional form 幾 puts 𢆶 (silk threads; little things) and 戍 (to guard against) together to show watching over the fine details; the simplified 几 is a later abbreviation.

Open 几 →

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