Definition
半斤八两 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally refers to the old Chinese weight system where one jin (斤) equals 16 liang (两), so half a jin is exactly eight liang — the two are equal. Figuratively, it describes two people or things that are equally matched, usually in a negative sense (both are bad, mediocre, or equally to blame). It's similar to 'six of one, half a dozen of the other' or 'tweedledum and tweedledee' in English.
f.e.
two of a kind (usually negative)six of onehalf a dozen of the othertweedledum and tweedledee
Examples
- 半斤八两，。Tāmen liǎng gè de jìshù bàn jīn bā liǎng, shéi yě bié xiàohua shéi.Their skills are equally mediocre — neither should laugh at the other.
- 半斤八两，。Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī de chǎnpǐn zhìliàng bàn jīn bā liǎng, dōu bù zěnme yàng.The product quality of these two companies is about the same — neither is any good.
- ，半斤八两，。Bié zhēng le, nǐmen liǎ bàn jīn bā liǎng, dōu bú shì shěng yóu de dēng.Stop arguing — you two are a pair, neither of you is easy to deal with.
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