Chinese word

旗鼓相当

Pronunciation

Pinyinqí gǔ xiāng dāng

Meaning

  • idiomevenly matched

Example

两队实力旗鼓相当，比赛很激烈。liǎng duì shí lì qí gǔ xiāng dāng bǐ sài hěn jī liè

The two teams are evenly matched, and the game is very intense.

Illustration for 旗鼓相当 (evenly matched)

More examples

两位候选人在能力上旗鼓相当，难以决定谁更合适。liǎng wèi hòu xuǎn rén zài néng lì shàng qí gǔ xiāng dāng nán yǐ jué dìng shuí gèng hé shì

The two candidates are evenly matched in ability, making it hard to decide who is more suitable.

Core concept

Two opposing sides balance each other so closely that neither gains a clear lead.

Common phrases

  • 实力旗鼓相当shí lì qí gǔ xiāng dāng

    equal in strength

  • 双方旗鼓相当shuāng fāng qí gǔ xiāng dāng

    both sides are evenly matched

Similar words

势均力敌shì jūn lì dí: Having almost equal strength on both sides in a contest, making the outcome difficult to predict.
不相上下bù xiāng shàng xià: Being so similar in level or position that it is hard to tell which is higher.
不分伯仲bù fēn bó zhòng: Having almost no difference in ability or rank, so that first and second place are hard to decide.

Definition in Chinese

双方在对抗中力量或能力相匹配，难以明显分胜负。shuāng fāng zài duì kàng zhōng lì liàng huò néng lì xiāng pǐ pèi nán yǐ míng xiǎn fēn shèng fù

Word origin

The idiom combines 旗 (qí, "flag") + 鼓 (gǔ, "drum") + 相当 (xiāngdāng, "be equal"), recalling military signals from forces of comparable strength.

Usage tips

  • Its somewhat formal, written flavor makes it more natural in news reports, analysis, and sports commentary than in casual small talk.

Other meanings

  • neck and neckidiom

Opposites

  • 一边倒yì biān dǎoone-sidedidiom

Word lists with this word