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難兄難弟. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
難兄難弟, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
難兄難弟 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
難兄難弟 you have here. The definition of the word
難兄難弟 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
難兄難弟, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology 1
Based on a tale in A New Account of the Tales of the World:
陳元方子長文有英才，與季方子孝先，各論其父功德，爭之不能決，咨於太丘。太丘曰：「元方難為兄，季方難為弟。」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
陈元方子长文有英才，与季方子孝先，各论其父功德，争之不能决，咨于太丘。太丘曰：「元方难为兄，季方难为弟。」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]- From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5th century CE
- Chén Yuánfāng zǐ Chángwén yǒu yīngcái, yǔ Jìfāng zǐ Xiàoxiān, gè lùn qí fù gōngdé, zhēng zhī bùnéng jué, zī yú Tàiqiū. Tàiqiū yuē: “Yuánfāng nán wéi xiōng, Jìfāng nán wéi dì.”
- The talented son of Yuanfang (Chen Ji), Changwen (Chen Qun), argued with the son of Jifang (Chen Chen), Xiaoxian (Chen Zhong), about the merits and virtues of their fathers. Unable to settle their argument, they consulted Taiqiu (Chen Shi, mayor of Taiqiu County). Taiqiu said, "Jifang is too outstanding for Yuanfang to be his elder brother, and Yuanfang is too outstanding for Jifang to be his younger brother."
Pronunciation
| Rime
|
| Character
|
難
|
兄
|
弟
|
弟
|
| Reading #
|
1/2
|
1/1
|
1/2
|
2/2
|
| Initial (聲)
|
泥 (8)
|
曉 (32)
|
定 (7)
|
定 (7)
|
| Final (韻)
|
寒 (61)
|
庚 (112)
|
齊 (39)
|
齊 (39)
|
| Tone (調)
|
Level (Ø)
|
Level (Ø)
|
Rising (X)
|
Departing (H)
|
| Openness (開合)
|
Open
|
Closed
|
Open
|
Open
|
| Division (等)
|
I
|
III
|
IV
|
IV
|
| Fanqie
|
那干切
|
許榮切
|
徒禮切
|
特計切
|
| Baxter
|
nan
|
xjwaeng
|
dejX
|
dejH
|
| Reconstructions
|
Zhengzhang
Shangfang
|
/nɑn/
|
/hˠwiæŋ/
|
/deiX/
|
/deiH/
|
Pan
Wuyun
|
/nɑn/
|
/hʷᵚiaŋ/
|
/deiX/
|
/deiH/
|
Shao
Rongfen
|
/nɑn/
|
/xiuaŋ/
|
/dɛiX/
|
/dɛiH/
|
Edwin
Pulleyblank
|
/nan/
|
/hwiajŋ/
|
/dɛjX/
|
/dɛjH/
|
Li
Rong
|
/nɑn/
|
/xiuɐŋ/
|
/deiX/
|
/deiH/
|
Wang
Li
|
/nɑn/
|
/xĭwɐŋ/
|
/dieiX/
|
/dieiH/
|
Bernhard
Karlgren
|
/nɑn/
|
/xi̯wɐŋ/
|
/dʱieiX/
|
/dʱieiH/
|
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex
|
nán
|
xiōng
|
dì
|
dì
|
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex
|
naan4
|
hing1
|
dai6
|
dai6
|
Idiom
難兄難弟
- hard to tell who is better; to be as good; equally-matched two
- (ironic) of the same ilk; to be both bad
Synonyms
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Idiom
難兄難弟
- fellow sufferers; in the same boat
Synonyms