(どうかく)

どうかく
noun
same rank; equality; apposition
1. same rank; equal status; equality
having the same rank, status, or standing
両者(りょうしゃ)同格(どうかく)だ。
The two are of equal standing.
(かれ)同格(どうかく)(あつか)われる。
To be treated as equal to him.
世界(せかい)のトップ選手(せんしゅ)同格(どうかく)実力(じつりょく)がある。
He has the ability equal to the world's top athletes.
この二人(ふたり)同格(どうかく)のライバルだ。
These two are rivals of equal standing.
2. apposition (grammar)
a grammatical construction where two noun phrases refer to the same entity
首都(しゅと)東京(とうきょう)」は同格(どうかく)表現(ひょうげん)だ。
'The capital, Tokyo' is an appositive expression.
同格(どうかく)の「の」を使(つか)った(ぶん)
A sentence using the appositive 'no'.
文法(ぶんぽう)試験(しけん)同格(どうかく)用法(ようほう)について出題(しゅつだい)された。
A question about appositive usage appeared on the grammar exam.

同格(どうかく) has two main uses: (1) equal rank or status between people or things, and (2) a grammar term for apposition, where two noun phrases refer to the same entity.

SENSE 1 — EQUAL STATUS:

Describes people or things at the same level. Often used with と or に to indicate the standard of comparison.

  • 同格(どうかく)(あつか)う: to treat as equal
  • 同格(どうかく)のライバル: a rival of equal standing

SENSE 2 — GRAMMAR (APPOSITION):

In Japanese grammar, 同格(どうかく) refers to appositional constructions like:

  • 友人(ゆうじん)田中(たなか)さん (my friend Tanaka)
  • 首都(しゅと)東京(とうきょう) (the capital, Tokyo)

The particle の in these constructions is called 同格(どうかく)の「の」.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 対等(たいとう): equal, on an equal footing (emphasizes fairness)
  • 同等(どうとう): equivalent (emphasizes being at the same level)