旗鼓相当
qí gǔ xiāng dāng
evenly matched
Character by character
旗qí
banners
banners
鼓gǔ
drums
drums
相xiāng
each other
each other
当dāng
match
match
Example
两支球队旗鼓相当，踢了九十分钟还是零比零。
The two teams were evenly matched; after ninety minutes it was still nil–nil.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Armies signalled with flags and drums, so equal flags and drums meant equal strength. Said of rivals, never of partners. Compare 不相上下 (lesson 3-5), which can also describe things.
Learn this in Lesson 64 · HSK 6: 村超与体育经济 (Village leagues and the business of sport)
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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