Definition
截然不同 is a fixed four-character phrase (成语式短语) meaning 'completely different, like night and day'. 截然 literally suggests a clear cut or dividing line, so the phrase emphasizes that two things have nothing in common. It is used mostly in formal writing or serious discussion, and it's not separable — you always say the full four characters together.
phrase
entirely differentcompletely distinct
Examples
- 截然不同。Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī de jīngyíng lǐniàn jié rán bù tóng.The business philosophies of these two companies are completely different.
- 截然不同，。Tāmen de xìnggé suīrán jié rán bù tóng, dàn hézuò de hěn hǎo.Although their personalities are entirely different, they cooperate well.
- 截然不同。Xiàndài jiànzhù hé chuántǒng jiànzhù de shèjì lǐniàn jié rán bù tóng.The design concepts of modern and traditional architecture are completely different.
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