半斤八两bàn jīn bā liǎngnot much to choose between the two

1. 1.

   not much to choose between the two

2. 2.

   tweedledum and tweedledee

Figurative meaning

Not much to choose between the two.

• 半half
• 斤catty
• 八eight
• 两tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤[jin1] (old)

No attested origin story

半斤八两 can compare two people or things that are about the same, often both not very good.

1. HSK 3

   他们两个人的水平半斤八两。

   Tāmen liǎng ge rén de shuǐpíng bàn jīn bā liǎng.

   The two of them are at about the same level; there's not much to choose between them.

2. HSK 1

   这两本书半斤八两，我觉得都不好看。

   Zhè liǎng běn shū bàn jīn bā liǎng, wǒ juéde dōu bù hǎokàn.

   There's not much to choose between these two books; I don't think either is good.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你觉得哪个好？

   Nǐ juéde nǎge hǎo?

   Which one do you think is better?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   这个和那个差不多。

   Zhège hé nàge chàbuduō.

   This one and that one are about the same.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   真的一样吗？

   Zhēn de yíyàng ma?

   Are they really the same?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   对，半斤八两。

   Duì, bàn jīn bā liǎng.

   Yes, there's not much to choose between them.

1. 1.What does 半斤八两 mean?

   ANot much to choose between the twoBHalf a catty of riceCEight times better
2. 2.Which sentence uses 半斤八两 correctly?

   A他们两个人的水平半斤八两。B我买了半斤八两。C他半斤八两地跑步。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 这两本书____，都不好看。 (There's not much to choose between these two books.)

   A半斤八两B草船借箭C负荆请罪

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Related idioms

• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 乱七八糟luàn qī bā zāochaotic; in disorder; muddledHSK 7–9
• 半途而废bàn tú ér fèito give up halfwayHSK 7–9
• 一年一度yī nián yī dù(idiom) annual; once a yearNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一箭双雕yī jiàn shuāng diāoto kill two birds with one stoneNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一见钟情yī jiàn zhōng qíngto fall in love at first sightNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus

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