Definition
伯仲 literally refers to the eldest and second-eldest brothers in a family, but in modern usage it's almost always used in the set phrase 伯仲之间, meaning 'about the same' or 'comparable in skill or quality'. You won't use it as a standalone noun in everyday conversation — it's a literary chengyu-like expression for saying two things are neck-and-neck.
n.
(literary) eldest and second-eldest brothers(in 伯仲之间) much the samecomparableneck-and-neck
Examples
- 伯仲。Zhè liǎng gè xuǎnshǒu de shuǐpíng zài bǎi zhī jiān.The skill levels of these two contestants are about the same.
- 伯仲。Liǎng jiā gōngsī de shílì nán fēn bǎi.The strengths of the two companies are hard to tell apart.
- 伯仲，。Tāmen de qíyì zài bǎi zhī jiān, bù fēn gāo xià.Their chess skills are comparable, with no clear winner.
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