同等
どうとう · doutou · JLPT N1 · na-adj
equality
⚖️ 同 = same + 等 = rank or grade, so 同等 = same rank, which means equal
Read dou-tou. 同 means same and 等 means class, rank, or grade. Things of the same grade are equal in standing, so the word covers equality and sameness of rank.
同 — 冂 enclosure + 一 + 口 mouth
Originally depicted multiple mouths gathered under one cover or enclosure, suggesting people speaking together in agreement. From this image of voices joining, it came to mean 'same,' 'together,' or 'alike.' The shared cover symbolizes unity.
等 — bamboo radical 竹 + temple 寺
Originally referred to bamboo slips of equal length used for record-keeping, with 竹 (bamboo) as the semantic component and 寺 suggesting the phonetic. From 'equal-length slips' the meaning extended to 'rank, class,' then 'equal,' and later to 'wait' (to be of equal status in line).