相提并论
相提并论 (xiāng tí bìng lùn) literally means “mention in the same breath” and expresses “incomparable comparison”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: xiang ti bing lun, xiang ti bing lun,相提并论 meaning, 相提并论 in english
Incomparable comparison
Pronunciation: xiāng tí bìng lùn Literal meaning: Mention in the same breath
Origin & Usage
The idiom 相提并论 (xiāng tí bìng lùn) originates from a historical context during the Western Han Dynasty, as recorded in the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记) by Sima Qian (司马迁). It involves Dou Ying (窦婴), a high-ranking official who felt guilty for not protecting the crown prince. A friend advised him that staying home and mingling with women while the prince was deposed could be seen as criticizing the emperor, as if placing these unrelated matters together (相提而论). Over time, this phrase evolved into 相提并论, meaning to compare or equate things that are fundamentally different. The characters break down as follows: 相 (mutually), 提 (mention), 并 (together), 论 (discuss). In modern usage, it warns against comparing incomparable things, highlighting the importance of discernment in judgment.
Examples
English: "It's unfair to compare such different artists in the same discussion."
Chinese: 把这两位艺术家相提并论是不公平的。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 相提并论 mean in English?
相提并论 (xiāng tí bìng lùn) literally translates to “Mention in the same breath” and is used to express “Incomparable comparison”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 相提并论 used?
Situation: It's unfair to compare such different artists in the same discussion.
What is the pinyin for 相提并论?
The pinyin pronunciation for 相提并论 is “xiāng tí bìng lùn”.