平分秋色

píngfēnqiūsè

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 píngfēnqiūsè, 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 píngfēnqiūsè, 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。

Zhè cì bǐsài guàn yàjūn píngfēnqiūsè, 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