1.
fifty-fifty; even; toss-up
An equal split or balance between two sides, outcomes, or possibilities. Used to describe situations where neither side has an advantage.
勝つ確率は五分五分だ。
The odds of winning are fifty-fifty.
両チームの実力は五分五分だと思う。
I think both teams are evenly matched.
手術が成功するかどうかは五分五分だと医者に言われた。
The doctor told me the chances of the surgery succeeding were fifty-fifty.
An expression using 分, a traditional unit meaning one-tenth. Five-tenths plus five-tenths equals a whole, conveying the idea of a perfectly even split. Very commonly used in everyday conversation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 五分五分の勝負: an even match
- 五分五分の確率: a fifty-fifty chance
- 五分五分の戦い: an evenly fought battle
USAGE:
Can be used as a noun (五分五分だ) or as a modifier (五分五分の). Often used when discussing the outcome of competitions, elections, medical procedures, or any situation with uncertain results.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 互角: evenly matched — emphasizes equal ability or strength between opponents
- 半々: half-and-half — used more for splitting things (costs, portions) rather than competition outcomes
- 拮抗: closely contested — more formal, often used in written language