伯仲之间

伯仲之間

bózhòngzhījiān

idiom

Meanings

1 on a par with each other
2 neck and neck
3 hard to tell apart in quality

Characters

second eldest brother

(possessive particle)

Examples

HSK 5

两本小说的文学价值在伯仲之间。

Liǎng běn xiǎoshuō de wénxué jiàzhí zài bózhòngzhījiān.

The two novels are of comparable literary value.

HSK 7-9

这两位棋手的水平在伯仲之间。

Zhè liǎng wèi qí shǒu de shuǐpíng zài bózhòngzhījiān.

These two chess players are evenly matched.

HSK 7-9

决赛双方实力在伯仲之间，胜负难料。

Juésài shuāngfāng shílì zài bózhòngzhījiān, shèngfù nán liào.

The two finalists are evenly matched - the outcome is hard to predict.

Tips

history

From Cao Pi's 《典论·论文》 (3rd c.): 傅毅之于班固，伯仲之间耳 - Fu Yi versus Ban Gu are like elder brother and second brother, hard to rank. 伯 = oldest brother, 仲; 'between them' means basically tied.

Stroke Order

伯 bó

仲 zhòng

之 zhī

间 jiān