# 伯仲之间

bó zhòng zhī jiān

Be nearly equal in ability or quality

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Between the eldest and second brother

**Traditional Chinese:** 伯仲之間

**Register:** Neutral · literary

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Compare two people or things with little difference in level.

It does not identify which one is definitively superior.

## Understanding the expression

The terms for an elder and second brother provide a compact comparison between close positions. In current use, the expression says that two competitors or alternatives are nearly on a par. A small distinction may exist, but it is not enough to establish a strong overall advantage. It often follows 在 or 不相. The relevant quality should be clear, since two people can be equal in one skill and different in another.

## Examples

两人的写作水平在伯仲之间。

### Traditional Chinese

兩人的寫作水平在伯仲之間。

liǎng rén de xiě zuò shuǐ píng zài bó zhòng zhī jiān 。

Their writing abilities are nearly equal.

这两款耳机的音质在伯仲之间，价格却差很多。

### Traditional Chinese

這兩款耳機的音質在伯仲之間，價格卻差很多。

zhè liǎng kuǎn ěr jī de yīn zhì zài bó zhòng zhī jiān ， jià gé què chà hěn duō 。

The headphones have similar sound quality despite very different prices.

两位选手成绩在伯仲之间，决赛难分胜负。

### Traditional Chinese

兩位選手成績在伯仲之間，決賽難分勝負。

liǎng wèi xuǎn shǒu chéng jì zài bó zhòng zhī jiān ， jué sài nán fēn shèng fù 。

The competitors' results are close, so the final is hard to predict.

两套方案效果在伯仲之间，可以按成本选择。

### Traditional Chinese

兩套方案效果在伯仲之間，可以按成本選擇。

liǎng tào fāng àn xiào guǒ zài bó zhòng zhī jiān ， kě yǐ àn chéng běn xuǎn zé 。

The plans are similarly effective, so cost can decide the choice.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%BC%AF%E4%BB%B2%E4%B9%8B%E9%96%93)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=392&webMd=1&la=0)

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