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同一 (tóng yī) — the same; identical

Definition

同一 is a formal/adjective form meaning 'the same' or 'identical', used more in writing than in speech. The spoken everyday word is 一样; 相同 is also formal, with a similar written tone.

adjective
the sameidentical

Examples

  • 。
    Tā men zhù zài tóng yí gè chéng shì.
    They live in the same city.
  • 。
    Wǒ men chuān tóng yí jiàn yī fu.
    We are wearing the same piece of clothing.
  • ？
    Zhè liǎng běn shū shì tóng yì běn ma?
    Are these two books the same copy?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

同tóngsame
一yīone

同 (same) points to 一 (one), giving the sense of identical or exactly one and the same.

Characters in this word

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5

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