# 大同小异

dà tóng xiǎo yì

Mostly alike with minor differences

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Large similarities and small differences

**Traditional Chinese:** 大同小異

**Register:** General · spoken & written

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

## When to use it

Compare things whose main features are shared.

Specify the important differences if they affect the choice.

## The image & its use

The expression weighs similarities against differences rather than claiming perfect identity. Two recipes, classroom methods, or versions of a document may share the same structure while differing in small details. It helps summarize a comparison efficiently. The importance of a detail still depends on the purpose: a tiny change may matter greatly in one setting. Use the phrase when the broad resemblance is useful, then explain any exception the listener needs to know.

## Examples

这两种做法大同小异。

### Traditional Chinese

這兩種做法大同小異。

zhè liǎng zhǒng zuò fǎ dà tóng xiǎo yì 。

The two methods are largely alike.

各地的步骤大同小异，细节略有不同。

### Traditional Chinese

各地的步驟大同小異，細節略有不同。

gè dì de bù zhòu dà tóng xiǎo yì ， xì jié lüè yǒu bù tóng 。

The steps are similar across places, with small differences.

这两篇介绍大同小异。

### Traditional Chinese

這兩篇介紹大同小異。

zhè liǎng piān jiè shào dà tóng xiǎo yì 。

The two introductions are mostly the same.

内容大同小异，我们重点比较价格。

### Traditional Chinese

內容大同小異，我們重點比較價格。

nèi róng dà tóng xiǎo yì ， wǒ men zhòng diǎn bǐ jiào jià gé 。

The contents are similar, so we will focus on price.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1080&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A7%E5%90%8C%E5%B0%8F%E7%95%B0)

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