似にたり寄よったり

に

た

り

よ

っ

た

り

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

much the same; not much difference

Used when comparing two or more things that are so similar that there is little to choose between them. Often carries a slightly dismissive or resigned tone.

どちらの案あんも似にたり寄よったりで、決きめ手てに欠

か

ける

。

Both proposals are much the same, so there's no decisive factor.

この二ふたつのスマホは性せい能のうが似にたり寄よったりだ。

These two smartphones are about the same in performance.

Kanji

似becoming, resemble, counterfeit
寄draw near, stop in, bring near

Related words

似にる
似る is a verb meaning 'to resemble' or 'to be similar'. 似たり寄ったり is a set phrase emphasizing that things are so similar they are practically interchangeable.
大だい同どう小しょう異い
大同小異 is a more formal four-character compound with a similar meaning, but 似たり寄ったり is more colloquial and often implies a slight negative nuance.

Written forms

似にたり寄よったり
Standard kanji spelling.
似にたりよったり
Variant spelling using kana for 寄.

Etymology

A set phrase combining the verb 似る (to resemble) and 寄る (to approach, to be similar), both in the たり form, creating a rhythmic expression meaning 'resembling and approaching', i.e., very similar.