tóng同samerì日dayér而andyǔ语speak
To speak of on the same day; to mention in the same breath; to equate.
Literal meaning
same (同) — day (日) — and (而) — speak (语)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase, often used to indicate that two things are not comparable.
Examples
Zhè这liǎng两ge个wèn问tí题bù不néng能tóng同rì日ér而yǔ语。
These two problems cannot be mentioned in the same breath.
Tā他men们de的chéng成jiù就gēn根běn本bù不néng能tóng同rì日ér而yǔ语。
Their achievements are simply not comparable.
Usage & nuances
Used to emphasize the difference between two things.
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