不相上下
不相上下 (bù xiāng shàng xià) literally means “not mutually up down” and expresses “evenly matched with neither superior”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: bu xiang shang xia, bu xiang shang xia,不相上下 meaning, 不相上下 in english
Evenly matched with neither superior
Pronunciation: bù xiāng shàng xià Literal meaning: Not mutually up down
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty military strategists developed this elegant phrase to describe forces without (不) mutual (相) superiority or inferiority (上下). Initially used for armies whose different strengths created overall parity, Tang Dynasty writers expanded it to compare everything from scholarly works to artistic performances. The spatial metaphor proves particularly effective in Chinese culture, where vertical positioning traditionally represents hierarchy.
When to Use
Situation: The two championship finalists were so evenly matched that predicting a winner was impossible
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Related Chinese Idioms
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nán yuán běi zhé
Actions contrary to one's goals
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耳目一新
ěr mù yī xīn
A refreshing new experience
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循序渐进
xún xù jiàn jìn
Progress step by step
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恍然大悟
huǎng rán dà wù
Sudden complete understanding after confusion
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hán dān xué bù
Lose abilities through misguided imitation
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Fundamentally or in the final analysis
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瓜田李下
guā tián lǐ xià
Avoid situations that invite suspicion
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得不偿失
dé bù cháng shī
Gains not worth the cost or sacrifice
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不相上下 mean in English?
不相上下 (bù xiāng shàng xià) literally translates to “Not mutually up down” and is used to express “Evenly matched with neither superior”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 不相上下 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving evenly matched with neither superior.
What is the pinyin for 不相上下?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不相上下 is “bù xiāng shàng xià”.