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相当于 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
相当于xiāngdāngyúequivalent toHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #25551, Very Hard
xiāngdāngyú(xiang1dang1yu2)xiang dang yu T1
  1. 1equivalent to
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March 24, 2026

相当于(相當於)xiāngdāngyú(xiang1dang1yu2)

相当于 (xiāng dāng yú) translates to 'equivalent to' in English. It is commonly used to compare two things that have the same value, quality, or importance, often in contexts like measurements, qualifications, or expressions of equivalence in discussions. The phrase emphasizes a parity or similarity between the subjects being discussed.

Strokes18Frequency#25551DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese education and job markets, the concept of equivalence is significant when discussing qualifications and degrees. For instance, when a foreign degree is evaluated, people commonly say it is '相当于' a Chinese degree to establish its value.

Memory tip

Think of 相 (xiāng) as two people facing each other, representing 'mutual' or 'together', while 当 (dāng) suggests 'acting as' or 'serving as'. The character 于 (yú) is a preposition indicating 'to' or 'in terms of'. Imagine two friends (相) who are equivalent (当) in their skills and talents (于) — they are equal in capability.

Meanings of 相当于

xiāngdāngyú(xiang1dang1yu2)
1equivalent to
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About 相当于

相当于Simplified
相當於Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 相当于

Quick Contrast

相等于 (xiāngděngyú) is used for direct equality in terms of value or quantity, while 相当于 (xiāngdāngyú) emphasizes equivalence in a broader sense, often including qualitative aspects.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 相当于; it is often used in formal discourse, such as academic or professional settings. A common mistake is to use it in informal contexts or as a direct synonym for 'like' or 'as', which may lead to misunderstandings. Pair it with terms like '标准' (biāo zhǔn, standard) or '水平' (shuǐ píng, level) for clearer expressions.

HSK Study Tips

While not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding 相当于 helps learners grasp the concept of equivalence, which is crucial for HSK Level 3 and above where comparisons and contrasts are common. Focus on using it with different subjects to practice making comparisons.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 相当于 with synonyms like '像' (xiàng, to resemble), leading to incorrect sentences like '他相当于我' (He is equivalent to me) instead of '他的能力相当于我的能力' (His abilities are equivalent to mine). Always specify what is being compared.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

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Component characters

相Xiāngeach other
9 strokes目
View full entry
当dāngto act as
HSK 46 strokes⺌
View full entry
于yúto go
HSK 63 strokes二
View full entry

How to say equivalent to in Chinese

“equivalent to” in Chinese is相当于xiāngdāngyú

相当于 (xiāng dāng yú) translates to 'equivalent to' in English. It is commonly used to compare two things that have the same value, quality, or importance, often in contexts like measurements, qualifications, or expressions of equivalence in discussions. The phrase emphasizes a parity or similarity between the subjects being discussed.

When to use 相当于

Be cautious with the context in which you use 相当于; it is often used in formal discourse, such as academic or professional settings. A common mistake is to use it in informal contexts or as a direct synonym for 'like' or 'as', which may lead to misunderstandings. Pair it with terms like '标准' (biāo zhǔn, standard) or '水平' (shuǐ píng, level) for clearer expressions.

相当于 or something close to it

相等于 (xiāngděngyú) is used for direct equality in terms of value or quantity, while 相当于 (xiāngdāngyú) emphasizes equivalence in a broader sense, often including qualitative aspects.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 相当于 with synonyms like '像' (xiàng, to resemble), leading to incorrect sentences like '他相当于我' (He is equivalent to me) instead of '他的能力相当于我的能力' (His abilities are equivalent to mine). Always specify what is being compared.

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相
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于

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Frequently asked questions about 相当于

You can say '他的学历相当于我的学历' which means 'His qualifications are equivalent to mine.'

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