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 & learning.
Also searched as: bu xiang shang xia, bu xiang shang xia,不相上下 meaning, 不相上下 in english
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
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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驾轻就熟
jià qīng jiù shú
Be very familiar with; handle with expertise
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轻车熟路
qīng chē shú lù
Be experienced; find something easy due to familiarity
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游刃有余
yóu rèn yǒu yú
Handle with ease; have skill to spare
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成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
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适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
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见好就收
jiàn hǎo jiù shōu
Quit while ahead; take profits
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急流勇退
jí liú yǒng tuì
Retire at the peak; know when to quit
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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 theWisdom & Learning category..
When is 不相上下 used?
Situation: The two championship finalists were so evenly matched that predicting a winner was impossible
What is the pinyin for 不相上下?
The pinyin pronunciation for 不相上下 is “bù xiāng shàng xià”.
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