Japanese meaning of 大同小異
Reading:
だいどうしょうい (daidou shoui)
English Translation:
A hair’s breadth difference / Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
The existence of only minor differences between things that are fundamentally similar, such as two products that have the same basic function but slightly different features.
Cultural Context:
From Chinese classics, used in debate, product comparison, and academic analysis to downplay differences.
大きな違いはなく、細部だけが異なっている状態。物事や意見、商品などの差がごくわずかで、本質的には同じであることを表します。
中国古典に由来し、議論や商品の比較、学術分析などで違いの小ささを表す。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase used with “だ” or “である” to state similarity with small differences.
Trap for English Speakers
Can be confused as meaning “completely identical,” missing the nuance of minor differences.
Example
Basic Example
二つの案は大同小異だ。
The two proposals are largely the same with minor differences.
Applied Example
二つの案は大同小異で、どちらでも結果は同じだった。
The two plans were much the same, with only minor differences.