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Expressing "equal to" or "basically means" with 等于 (děngyú)
HSK 4Comparison
Structure
A + 等于 + B
Explanation
The verb 等于 (děngyú) means "to equal" or "to be equivalent to" and can be used both literally for mathematical equality and figuratively to mean "is basically the same as." It draws a direct equivalence between two things. For example, 放弃等于失败 means "Giving up is equivalent to failure."
Examples
不运动等于慢慢伤害自己的身体。
Bù yùndòng děngyú mànmàn shānghài zìjǐ de shēntǐ.
Not exercising is the same as slowly harming your own body.
三加七等于十。
Sān jiā qī děngyú shí.
Three plus seven equals ten.
浪费时间等于浪费生命。
Làngfèi shíjiān děngyú làngfèi shēngmìng.
Wasting time is the same as wasting life.