势均力敌

勢均力敵

shìjūn-lìdí

idiom #22,158

Meanings

1 evenly matched
2 equal in strength
3 well-matched opponents

Characters

power / momentum / situation

equal / even / balanced

strength / force

enemy / opponent / to match

Examples

两队势均力敌，比赛打得非常激烈。

Liǎng duì shìjūnlìdí, bǐsài dǎ de fēicháng jīliè.

The two teams were evenly matched, making for a fiercely contested game.

这场谈判双方势均力敌，谁都不肯让步。

Zhè chǎng tánpàn shuāngfāng shìjūnlìdí, shéi dōu bùkěn ràngbù.

In this negotiation both sides were equally matched and neither was willing to give ground.

Tips

memory

Break it down: 势 (power/momentum) 均 (equal) 力 (strength) 敌 (opponent/enemy). Power equal, strength matched against the enemy — perfectly balanced forces.

Stroke Order

势 shì

均 jūn

力 lì

敌 dí