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两回事 (liǎng huí shì) — two entirely different things; two separate matters

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'two completely different things' — used to insist that two things should not be confused or compared. Almost always appears in the pattern 是两回事 or 不是一回事.

noun
two entirely different thingstwo separate matters

Examples

  • 两回事，。
    Gōng zuò hé xué xí shì liǎng huí shì, bù néng hùn wéi yì tán.
    Work and study are two entirely different things and cannot be lumped together.
  • 两回事。
    Tā shuō de hé zuò de wán quán shì liǎng huí shì.
    What he says and what he does are completely two different matters.
  • ，两回事。
    Zhè bú shì qián de wèn tí, nà shì liǎng huí shì.
    This is not a money issue; that is a separate matter.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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