equal

Compared meaning: equal or the same in value (adjective).

比较义项：相等的、相当的（形容词）。

• equal 本词

  The plain, general word for things being exactly the same in amount, size or value; neutral in tone and used in everyday and formal contexts alike.

  表示数量、大小或价值完全相同的最普通、最一般化的词，语气中性，日常和正式场合都可以使用。

  Cut the pizza into four equal slices so everyone gets the same amount.

  把披萨切成四等份，这样每个人分到的量都一样。

• even

  Often describes two sides or scores becoming level after being unequal, especially in competitions or comparisons; less natural for describing physical size or value.

  常用来描述原本不相等的两方（尤其是比分或竞赛结果）变得持平，不太自然用来描述物体的大小或价值相等。

  After her goal, the score was even, two goals apiece.

  她进球后，比分打平了，双方都是两球。

• equivalent

  Formal word for two different things having the same value, effect or amount, often used to compare across categories, such as currencies, units or qualifications; almost always followed by 'to'.

  较为正式的词，指两种不同的事物在价值、效果或数量上相当，常用于跨类别比较，例如货币、单位、学历，后面几乎总跟介词“to”。

  A university degree is often considered equivalent to three years of work experience.

  大学学历常被认为相当于三年的工作经验。

• tantamount

  Very formal, used only in the fixed phrase 'tantamount to', meaning something amounts to the same thing in effect or meaning, usually something serious or negative.

  非常正式的词，只用于“tantamount to”这一固定搭配，意思是某事在效果或意义上等同于另一件通常是严重或负面的事情。

  Staying silent about the fraud was tantamount to lying to investors.

  对这起欺诈保持沉默，等同于对投资者撒谎。

Equal, even, equivalent, and tantamount all mean 'the same', but tone differs: equal is plain and common; even often means level, as in a tied score; equivalent is formal, comparing different categories; tantamount is formal, only in 'tantamount to', for something serious.

这四个词在“相等、相当”这个意义上很接近，但语气和用法不同：equal 最普通中性，even 多用于比分或对比双方变得持平，equivalent 较正式，常用于比较不同类别的事物，tantamount 最正式，只用于“tantamount to”这个固定搭配，且多指负面或严重的事情。这里不比较 even 的“平坦的”和“偶数的”义项。

Compared meaning: a person of equal ability or status (noun).

比较义项：能力或地位相当的人（名词）。

• peer

  Peer usually appears in the plural and refers to people in the same social, age or professional group, common in phrases like 'peer pressure' or 'among peers'.

  peer 通常用复数形式，指同一社会、年龄或职业群体中的人，常见于“peer pressure（同伴压力）”“among peers（在同伴中）”这类说法。

  Teenagers often care more about impressing their peers than pleasing their parents.

  青少年常常更在意给同龄人留下好印象，而不是让父母满意。

• equal 本词

  Equal is more formal and usually singular, stressing that someone matches another person's skill or status, as in fixed phrases like 'no equal' or 'an equal'.

  equal 更正式，通常用单数，强调某人在能力或地位上与另一人相当，常用于“no equal（无人能及）”“an equal（对等的人）”这类固定搭配中。

  In the debate club, she was regarded as his intellectual equal.

  在辩论社里，她被认为在才智上与他不相上下。

Peer and equal mean a person of similar ability or status, but usage differs. Peer is usually plural, for people in the same group, as in 'peer pressure'. Equal is more formal, usually singular, stressing that someone matches another person's skill, as in 'no equal'.

这两个词都能指“能力、地位相当的人”，但用法和语气不同：peer 常用复数，指同一群体（同龄人、同事、同学等）中地位相当的人，常见于“同伴压力”“同行评审”这类说法；equal 更正式，多用单数，强调在某方面与某人“旗鼓相当”，常见于“无人能及”“视…为平等的人”这类固定搭配。