异曲同工

yì qǔ tóng gōng

different methods, equally good results; different in form, alike in effect

Character by character

异yì
different

曲qǔ
tune

同tóng
same

工gōng
skill

中医讲养生，现代医学讲预防，两者有异曲同工之妙。

Chinese medicine talks of nurturing life, modern medicine of prevention: the two arrive at the same place by different roads.

Tone: positive (praise).

From 韩愈’s 进学解, which praised two Han writers as 同工异曲: different tunes played with equal skill. Usually 有异曲同工之妙 or A 与 B 异曲同工.

Learn this in Lesson 246 · HSK 9+: 西安的清真大寺 (The Great Mosque of Xi’an)

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.