相当于 / 等于 xiāngdāng yú / děngyú

相当于 / 等于（xiāngdāng yú / děngyú）means “'be equivalent to / equal to / amount to' — A 相当于/等于 B”. 相当于 means 'be equivalent to / correspond to', comparing quantity, level or status (一美元相当于七元人民币). Formation: A + 相当于/等于 + B（数量、地位、结果的等同）

'be equivalent to / equal to / amount to' — A 相当于/等于 B

HSK5

Formation

A + 相当于/等于 + B（数量、地位、结果的等同）

Explanation

相当于 means 'be equivalent to / correspond to', comparing quantity, level or status (一美元相当于七元人民币). 等于 literally 'equals' is used for math (二加二等于四) and, figuratively, 'amounts to / means' (这等于说他不来了 'that amounts to saying he won't come'). Both take a noun or clause after them and function as verbs.

Examples

一英里 相当于 一点六公里。
yì yīnglǐ xiāngdāng yú yì diǎn liù gōnglǐ.
One mile is equivalent to 1.6 kilometers.
你这么说 等于 承认了错误。
nǐ zhème shuō děngyú chéngrèn le cuòwù.
Putting it that way amounts to admitting your mistake.

Note

相当于 stresses comparable value; 等于 stresses exact identity or 'is tantamount to'. Don't confuse with adjective 相当 'quite'.

FAQ

相当于 / 等于 — what does it mean and how is it used?

'be equivalent to / equal to / amount to' — A 相当于/等于 B. 相当于 means 'be equivalent to / correspond to', comparing quantity, level or status (一美元相当于七元人民币). 等于 literally 'equals' is used for math (二加二等于四) and, figuratively, 'amounts to / means' (这等于说他不来了 'that amounts to saying he won't come'). Both take a noun or clause after them and function as verbs.

相当于 / 等于 — how do you form it?

A + 相当于/等于 + B（数量、地位、结果的等同）

相当于 / 等于 — any usage notes?

相当于 stresses comparable value; 等于 stresses exact identity or 'is tantamount to'. Don't confuse with adjective 相当 'quite'.

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