异同 (yì tóng) — similarities and differences (in comparison); (formal/literary) objection, dissent

Definition

A formal noun meaning 'similarities and differences,' used in written comparison of two things. The second sense 'objection' is rare; 'no one raised any 异同' at a meeting means 'no dissent.'

noun
similarities and differences (in comparison)(formal/literary) objectiondissent

Examples

  • 异同。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng fēn xī le liǎng zhǒng wén huà de yì tóng.
    This article analyzes the similarities and differences between two cultures.
  • 异同。
    Bǐ jiào liǎng zhǒng zhì dù de yì tóng shì yán jiū zhòng diǎn.
    Comparing the similarities and differences of the two systems is the research focus.
  • 异同，。
    Huì shàng wú rén tí chū yì tóng, fāng àn shùn lì tōng guò.
    No one raised any objections at the meeting, and the plan passed smoothly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

异yìdifferent
同tóngsame

异 (different) and 同 (same) combine to refer to similarities and differences.

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 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →

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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