棋逢对手
qí féng duì shǒu
to meet one’s match; evenly matched
Character by character
棋qí
board game
board game
逢féng
meet
meet
对duì
matching
matching
手shǒu
hand
hand
Example
两位老朋友在公园里下了一下午棋，棋逢对手，谁也不肯认输。
The two old friends played all afternoon in the park; they were evenly matched and neither would give in.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Often in full as 棋逢对手，将遇良才, “at the board one meets an equal, a general meets a worthy foe”. Said of players, teams or debaters of equal strength, and it promises a good contest; for a one-sided match people say 一边倒.
Learn this in Lesson 150 · HSK 7–9: 人机大战：围棋 (Go: man against machine)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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