相提并论
xiāng tí bìng lùn · HSK 7
to discuss two disparate things together (idiom); to mention on equal terms; to place on a par with; (often with negatives: impossible to mention X in the same breath as Y)
⚖️ 相+提+并+论 = mutually + raise + side-by-side + discuss = mention as equals
Four characters stack up: 相 mutually, 提 to raise/bring up, 并 together/side-by-side, 论 to discuss. Bringing two things up side-by-side to weigh them as equals — most often used with a negative: these two simply cannot be 相提并论.
提 — hand radical 扌 + 是 (phonetic)
提 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning, since the character originally referred to lifting or carrying something by hand. The right side 是 supplies the sound. From 'lift up' it extended to 'raise (an issue),' 'mention,' and 'bring forward.'
并 — two 立 (standing person) side by side
Originally a pictograph of two people standing side by side, depicting togetherness or combination. The modern form 并 merges several historical characters (並, 併, 竝) that all conveyed 'side by side' or 'combine'. Today it means 'and, moreover' or 'to merge', and also negates expectations as in 并不.