bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5半斤八両半斤八两
Jyutpingbun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5
Yalebun gān baat léuhng
Definition
Six of one and half a dozen of the other; neck and neck; equally matched.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Originating from the old Chinese weight system where sixteen taels made one catty, this idiom highlights that two things are essentially equal in quality or ability. It is almost exclusively used in a negative or dismissive context to suggest that neither party is superior to the other. It carries a slightly cynical tone, often implying that both parties share the same flaws.
Examples
The two of them are actually much of a muchness.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe positive equality or balanced outcomes in a formal or professional setting, as it often carries a connotation of mediocrity or shared incompetence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
