异曲同工
异曲同工 (yì qǔ tóng gōng) literally means “different tune, same skill” and expresses “different methods, equally good results”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: yi qu tong gong, yi qu tong gong,异曲同工 meaning, 异曲同工 in english
Different methods, equally good results
Pronunciation: yì qǔ tóng gōng Literal meaning: Different tune, same skill
Origin & Usage
Han Yu wrote in the same essay that Yang Xiong and Sima Xiangru were of the same (同) workmanship (工) though their tunes (曲) differed (异) — 同工异曲, which reverses into the modern form. 工 is craftsmanship and its result, so the claim is about achieved quality rather than intention. The phrase is used where two quite different methods arrive at an equally good outcome, and it is a compliment to both. It is not a way of saying two things are the same.
Examples
English: "The two companies used different methods but achieved equally excellent results"
Chinese: 这两家公司采用不同的方法，但取得了同样出色的结果
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
大同小异
dà tóng xiǎo yì
Essentially the same with minor differences
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求同存异
qiú tóng cún yì
Agree on the common, shelve the rest
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鬼斧神工
guǐ fǔ shén gōng
Supernatural craftsmanship
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曲突徙薪
qū tū xǐ xīn
Take precautions before disaster
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曲高和寡
qǔ gāo hè guǎ
Sophisticated work appreciated by few
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半斤八两
bàn jīn bā liǎng
Essentially the same despite appearances
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巧夺天工
qiǎo duó tiān gōng
Craftsmanship beyond natural limits
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两虎相争
liǎng hǔ xiāng zhēng
Fierce competition between equals
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 异曲同工 mean in English?
异曲同工 (yì qǔ tóng gōng) literally translates to “Different tune, same skill” and is used to express “Different methods, equally good results”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 异曲同工 used?
Situation: The two companies used different methods but achieved equally excellent results
What is the pinyin for 异曲同工?
The pinyin pronunciation for 异曲同工 is “yì qǔ tóng gōng”.