dà大bigtóng同samexiǎo小smallyì异different
Similar in essentials but different in minor details; largely the same but with minor differences.
Literal meaning
big (大) — same (同) — small (小) — different (异)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing things that are mostly the same.
Examples
Zhè liǎng běn shū dàtóng-xiǎoyì.这两本书大同小异。
These two books are largely the same.
Tāmen de guāndiǎn dàtóng-xiǎoyì.他们的观点大同小异。
Their viewpoints are similar in essentials.
Usage & nuances
Describes things that are mostly the same but have some minor differences.
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