GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜に等しい
Indicates that something is effectively equal to the comparison in value or result despite a difference in form.
Examples
証拠を隠す行為は、真実を否定するのに等しい。
The act of hiding evidence is tantamount to denying the truth.
Words used
約束を破ることは信頼を失うのに等しい。
Breaking a promise is tantamount to losing trust.
Words used
重要な事実を隠しているのは、嘘をつくのに等しい。
Hiding an important fact is equivalent to telling a lie.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
に等しい（にひとしい）evaluates something as effectively equivalent to its comparison in meaning or result. - Basic usage:
重要な事実を隠しているのは、嘘をつくのに等しい。evaluates hiding an important fact as tantamount to lying.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- How to parse noni
- In
嘘をつくのに等しい,のnominalizes the act of lying andにmarks the comparison. This structure differs from concessiveのにin知っているのに話さない.
- In
- Evaluation versus naming the content
拒否に等しい返事is a reply effectively treated as a refusal even without being worded as one.拒否という返事directly names the content as a refusal, distinguishing an assessment of effect from a label for the content.