Definition
This four-character idiom literally means 'cannot be spoken of on the same day' — it is used to say that two things are so different in quality, level, or nature that they cannot be compared or mentioned in the same breath. You'll hear it in formal or written contexts to emphasize a huge gap (e.g. between past and present, or between two competitors).
f.e.
cannot be mentioned in the same breathincomparablenot on the same level
Examples
- ，不可同日而语。Xiànzài de kējì hé shí nián qián xiāngbǐ, jiǎnzhí bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ.Today's technology compared to ten years ago simply cannot be mentioned in the same breath.
- 不可同日而语，。Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī de shílì bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ, chājù tài dà le.The strength of these two companies is incomparable — the gap is too big.
- 不可同日而语。Zhuānyè xuǎnshǒu hé yèyú àihào zhě de shuǐpíng bù kě tóng rì ér yǔ.The level of professional athletes and amateur enthusiasts cannot be mentioned in the same breath.
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