Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 同一 | tóngyī |
| 同 | tóng |
| 同樣 / 同样 | tóngyàng |
| 一樣 / 一样 | yīyàng |
In Chinese, the concept of 'same' ranges from describing things that are identical to things that are merely similar. You can use 同樣 / 同样 as an adverb meaning 'likewise' or 'in the same way' at the beginning of a clause. It is also used to refer to the identical thing.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 同 (tóng) literally means 'same', 'together' or 'with'. It often functions as a prefix in compound words to indicate shared characteristics, such as in words meaning 'same year' or 'colleague' (same work).
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance you wish to convey. Use 同一 to emphasize that two things are one and the same entity or are strictly identical, often in formal or logical contexts. Use 一樣 / 一样 to describe things that are similar or share the same qualities, which is the most common way to express 'the same' in daily conversation. Use 同樣 / 同样 when discussing comparable things or situations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the comparison 'A is the same as B', use the standard pattern 'A 跟 B 一樣' (A gēn B yīyàng).
How do you pronounce it?
tóngyī
Did you know?
- The character 同 originally depicted a hollow tube or pipe. This shape suggested the idea of things being joined together or flowing through the same channel.
- The phrase 一樣 (yīyàng) literally means 'one appearance'. It suggests that two things are the same because they share a single, identical look.
- Using 同一 in a logical or legal context can change a sentence from 'similar' to 'identical'. This distinction is critical in Chinese contracts to avoid ambiguity between 'similar' and 'the very same'.
Examples in context
- 你和我同龄。You and I are the same age.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 同 to express being the same age.Tatoeba #1423324 by sadhen, translation #17589 by CK
- 同样感谢你。Thank you all the same.This sentence demonstrates using 同 to mean 'likewise' or 'all the same'.Tatoeba #5624987 by verdastelo9604, translation #24771 by CK
- 大家別同時說。Don't all speak at the same time.This sentence shows using 同 in the context of 'at the same time'.Tatoeba #1019940 by egg0073, translation #1019939 by sundown
- 他们有相同的观点。They have the same viewpoint.
- 他们穿着同样的衣服。They are wearing the same clothes.
- 我们的喜好一样。Our preferences are the same.
- 我们对这个问题的看法完全一致。We have exactly the same opinion on this issue.
- 119 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a scheduled meeting.
- 梓涵 Zihan我們要在同一間會議室嗎？Wǒmen yào zài tóngyī jiān huìyìshì ma?Are we going to be in the same meeting room?
- 浩然 Haoran是的，就在三號會議室。Shì de, jiù zài sān hào huìyìshì.Yes, it is in meeting room number three.
- 梓涵 Zihan那我就直接過去了。Nà wǒ jiù zhíjiē guòqù le.Then I will head straight there.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，待會見。Hǎo de, dāihuì jiàn.Okay, see you later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “same” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 同, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
