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相当于 (xiāng dāng yú) — to be equivalent to, to correspond to, to be comparable to

Definition

Used to say A is equivalent or comparable to B in value, rank, or function — a more formal, written alternative to 等于, which is plain math/measurement. Often introduces an analogy or cross-domain comparison.

verb
to be equivalent toto correspond toto be comparable to

Examples

  • 相当于。
    Zhè ge shù liàng xiāng dāng yú yí gè yuè de gōng zī.
    This amount is equivalent to one month's salary.
  • ，相当于。
    Zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng, zhè ge jié rì xiāng dāng yú xī fāng de shèng dàn jié.
    In Chinese culture, this festival is equivalent to Christmas in the West.
  • 相当于。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de zhè ge zhí wèi xiāng dāng yú bù mén jīng lǐ.
    This position in this company is equivalent to a department manager.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

相当equivalent
相xiāngmutually当dāngmatch
偏正Modifier + head
于yúto

相当 means equivalent or matching, and 于 directs the comparison toward something.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng當dāng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
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