大同小异
dà tóng xiǎo yì
much the same
Character by character
大dà
largely
largely
同tóng
same
same
小xiǎo
slightly
slightly
异yì
different
different
Example
这两个方案大同小异。
The two plans are pretty much the same.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From Zhuangzi (天下), in Hui Shi's paradoxes on sameness and difference; now 'essentially the same'.
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