不约而同
不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) literally means “not arrange yet same” and expresses “arrive at same point without coordination”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: bu yue er tong, bu yue er tong,不约而同 meaning, 不约而同 in english
Arrive at same point without coordination
Pronunciation: bù yuē ér tóng Literal meaning: Not arrange yet same
Origin & Usage
Eastern Han historians first noted this phenomenon of actions that without (不) prior arrangement (约) nevertheless occur identically (同) when documenting how separated officials independently implemented similar policies. Tang Dynasty scholars saw in such convergence evidence of universal principles guiding human thought. Modern scientists particularly value such instances of independent discovery as validation of underlying truth.
Examples
English: "Without any coordination, three research teams independently reached identical conclusions"
Chinese: 没有任何协调，三个研究团队独立得出了相同的结论
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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推波助澜
tuī bō zhù lán
Amplifying existing trends or momentum
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 不约而同 mean in English?
不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng) literally translates to “Not arrange yet same” and is used to express “Arrive at same point without coordination”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 不约而同 used?
Situation: Without any coordination, three research teams independently reached identical conclusions
What is the pinyin for 不约而同?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不约而同 is “bù yuē ér tóng”.