daai6 tung4 siu2 ji6大同小異大同小异

Jyutpingdaai6 tung4 siu2 ji6

Yaledaaih tùhng síu yih

形容詞

Definition

Virtually the same, differing only on minor points.

neutraldescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is often used to describe things that look different on the surface but share the same core essence or outcome. It carries a slightly formal tone compared to the common spoken phrase 差唔多, so it is frequently used when making a more analytical or critical observation about similarities.

Examples

le1呢loeng5兩fan2份bou3報gou3告noi6內jung4容daai6大tung4同siu2小ji6異，m4唔sai2使tai2睇saai3晒。

The content of these two reports is more or less the same, no need to read them all.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得le1呢loeng5兩gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳ge3嘅coi3菜daan1單hai6係mai6咪daai6大tung4同siu2小ji6異？

Do you think the menus of these two restaurants are virtually the same?

Common phrases

noi6內jung4容daai6大tung4同siu2小ji6異

the content is more or less the same

cing4情zit3節daai6大tung4同siu2小ji6異

the plots are virtually the same

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to mean exactly the same, but it specifically implies that minor differences still exist. Avoid using it for identical items where there is zero variation.