Meaning
相同 means 'the same' or 'identical' and is used to describe two or more things that share the same characteristics, qualities, or attributes. It emphasizes complete or near-complete similarity between items being compared.
Usage
相同 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It typically appears in comparative constructions with 和/与/跟 (and/with) to connect the items being compared. Native speakers often use it in formal contexts, academic writing, and everyday conversation when emphasizing sameness or identity between things.
Examples
- 01我们两个人的想法完全相同。.Our two ideas are completely the same.
- 02这两本书的内容大致相同。.The content of these two books is roughly the same.
Characters
Common collocations
- 完全相同completely identical
- 相同的问题the same question/problem
- 与...相同...the same as...
- 相同之处points of similarity
Antonyms
Origin
The character 相 originally meant 'to look at' and evolved to mean 'mutually' or 'each other.' Combined with 同 (same/together), 相同 literally means 'mutually the same,' emphasizing reciprocal sameness between two or more entities.