异曲同工

異曲同工

yìqǔtónggōng

idiom

Meanings

1 different tunes played with equal skill
2 different approaches producing the same excellent result
3 different means to the same end

Characters

skill; craftsmanship

Examples

这两部电影题材不同，但异曲同工，都令人感动。

Zhè liǎng bù diànyǐng tícái bùtóng, dàn yìqǔtónggōng, dōu lìng rén gǎndòng.

The two films have different subjects, but they work equally well — both are moving.

他的方法和前人异曲同工。

Tā de fāngfǎ hé qiánrén yìqǔtónggōng.

His method achieves the same effect as earlier ones, just by a different route.

两位作家的写作风格异曲同工，各有千秋。

Liǎng wèi zuòjiā de xiězuò fēnggé yìqǔtónggōng, gè yǒu qiānqiū.

The two writers have different styles but equally fine craft — each has its own merits.

Tips

history

From Han Yu's Tang-dynasty 《进学解》: 子云相如，同工异曲 — comparing the Han-dynasty writers Yang Xiong (子云) and Sima Xiangru (相如) as achieving the same literary excellence in different modes.

mistakes

工 here means 'skill/craft/result', not 'work'. Don't confuse with 殊途同归 (different paths lead to the same destination), which is about conclusions; 异曲同工 is about quality of craft or effect.

Stroke Order

异 yì

曲 qǔ

同 tóng

工 gōng