等しい・均しい・斉しい|ひとしいhitoshii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
等しい等しい（ひとしい） is the most common written form, using kanji and kana. Beginners should choose it when writing this word.
均しい均しい（ひとしい） is rarely used and less common than 等しい（ひとしい）. You may encounter this kanji-and-kana written variant, but beginners should choose 等しい（ひとしい）.
斉しい斉しい（ひとしい） is rarely used and less common than 等しい（ひとしい）. You may encounter this kanji-and-kana written variant, but beginners should choose 等しい（ひとしい）.
Definitions
- i-adjectiveequal; identical; the same
- i-adjectiveno different (from); just like; equivalent
Conjugation
| Plain form | 等しい（ひとしい） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 等しいです（ひとしいです） |
| Negative (kunai) | 等しくない（ひとしくない） |
| polite (ku arimasen) | 等しくありません（ひとしくありません） |
| Past (katta) | 等しかった（ひとしかった） |
| Past negative (kunakatta) | 等しくなかった（ひとしくなかった） |
| Te form (kute) | 等しくて（ひとしくて） |
| Adverbial (ku) | 等しく（ひとしく） |
| Conditional (kereba) | 等しければ（ひとしければ） |
| kattara | 等しかったら（ひとしかったら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym同じおなじNeutralThe most common everyday word for 'same' or 'alike'. 「等しい」 is more written, centering on numerical or degree equality, or being equivalent to a state.
- Synonym同様どうようNeutralRefers to situations being the same, as in 「前回と同様」. 「等しい」 focuses on quantity or value being equal.
- Synonym同等どうとうNeutralCovers equal rank, degree, or qualifications, as in 「同等の権利」. 「等しい」 centers on numerical equality.
- Synonym同一どういつNeutralMeans being one and the same or exactly identical, as in 「同一人物」. 「等しい」 focuses on equal quantity.
- SynonymイコールNeutralA loanword for the equals sign or 'equals'; people also say 「A イコール B」 in speech. 「等しい」 is an adjective.
- Synonym等価とうかNeutralRefers to equal value, as in 「等価交換」. 「等しい」 is broader.
- Synonym均等きんとうNeutralUsed for even distribution or treatment, as in 「均等に分ける」. 「等しい」 simply describes a state.
- Synonym同然どうぜんNeutralMeans virtually the same as, often in 「〜も同然だ」; close to figurative uses of 「等しい」 like 「死に等しい」.
- SynonymおっつかっつCasualA colloquial expression for two things being just about even, neither side ahead. 「等しい」 is more formal.
- Related同質どうしつWrittenWritten/formal prose for having the same quality or nature; 「等しい」 focuses on quantity and degree.
- Related平等びょうどうNeutralCovers equality in treatment or rights, with a social slant. 「等しい」 leans toward quantity and degree.
- Related共通きょうつうNeutralMeans shared or common to both, as in 「共通の趣味」. 「等しい」 describes two things being equal to each other.
- Related近いちかいNeutralMeans close or approximate, as in 「ゼロに近い」. 「等しい」 means fully equal.
- Related同じようおなじようNeutralColloquial: much the same or similar. 「等しい」 is stricter, meaning exactly equal.
- Related類同るいどうWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: of the same kind, similar. In daily speech say 「似ている」.
- Antonym異なることなるNeutralAntonym of 「等しい」 on the same-vs-different axis: to differ; leans toward written style.
- Antonym違うちがうNeutralAlso an antonym on the same-vs-different axis: to differ; the everyday, most common choice.
Use 「等しい」 for numerical or degree equality. For everyday 'same' pick 「同じ」; for the same situation 「同様」; for equal rank or standing 「同等」; for even distribution 「均等」; for virtually equal 「同然」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
