半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng) — two of a kind (usually negative); six of one, half a dozen of the other; tweedledum and tweedledee

Definition

A colloquial idiom meaning 'two sides are equally bad / basically the same' — used to dismiss both parties as no different. Always carries a negative or dismissive tone, never praise.

idiom
two of a kind (usually negative)six of onehalf a dozen of the othertweedledum and tweedledee

Examples

  • 半斤八两，。
    Tā men liǎng gè de jì shù bàn jīn bā liǎng, shuí yě bié xiào hua shuí.
    Their skills are equally mediocre — neither should laugh at the other.
  • 半斤八两，。
    Zhè liǎng jiā gōng sī de chǎn pǐn zhì liàng bàn jīn bā liǎng, dōu bù zěn me yàng.
    The product quality of these two companies is about the same — neither is any good.
  • ，半斤八两，。
    Bié zhēng le, nǐ men liǎ bàn jīn bā liǎng, dōu bú shì shěng yóu de dēng.
    Stop arguing — you two are a pair, neither of you is easy to deal with.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The shape pairs 八 (to divide) with 牛 (cow), showing a cow cut into two halves.

Open 半 →

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

斤 is drawn as a simple picture of an axe.

Open 斤 →

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

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

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 →

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