平分秋色

píngfēn-qiūsè

idiom #51,608

Meanings

1 to share the autumn scenery equally
2 to be evenly matched
3 to split the limelight fifty-fifty

Characters

evenly, equally

to divide, to share

Examples

这场比赛双方平分秋色，最后以平局收场。

Zhè chǎng bǐsài shuāngfāng píngfēn-qiūsè, zuìhòu yǐ píngjú shōuchǎng.

Both teams were evenly matched in this game, ending in a draw.

两家品牌在市场上平分秋色，难分高下。

Liǎng jiā pǐnpái zài shìchǎng shàng píngfēn-qiūsè, nán fēn gāoxià.

The two brands split the market evenly, with neither clearly on top.

这次比赛冠亚军平分秋色，只差了0.1秒。

Zhècì bǐsài guànyàjūn píngfēn-qiūsè, zhǐ chà le líng diǎn yī miǎo.

The champion and runner-up were neck and neck, separated by only 0.1 seconds.

Tips

history

From Li Pu's Song-dynasty poem 《中秋》: 平分秋色一轮满，长伴云衢千里明 — 'a full moon evenly divides the autumn view.' The moon at mid-autumn splits the season in half; the image generalized to any equal split.

usage

Neutral to mildly positive — describes genuine equal footing in competition, market share, popularity, or results. Pair with 不分伯仲 or 难分高下.

Stroke Order

平 píng

分 fēn

秋 qiū

色 sè