旗鼓相当

旗鼓相當

qígǔ-xiāngdāng

idiom #28,006

Meanings

1 evenly matched
2 roughly equal in strength
3 a worthy opponent

Characters

mutually; each other

to match; to be equal to

Examples

两队实力旗鼓相当，比赛非常激烈。

Liǎng duì shílì qígǔ-xiāngdāng, bǐsài fēicháng jīliè.

The two teams were evenly matched, and the competition was very intense.

他们在谈判桌上旗鼓相当，谁也不让步。

Tāmen zài tánpànzhuō shàng qígǔ-xiāngdāng, shuí yě bù ràngbù.

They were evenly matched at the negotiating table, with neither side conceding.

Tips

history

Literally 'flags and drums match each other.' In ancient warfare, armies signaled commands with flags (旗) and drums (鼓). Equal flags and drums meant two armies of comparable size and power facing each other.

Stroke Order

旗 qí

鼓 gǔ

相 xiāng

当 dāng