判若云泥 as different as heaven and earth
Explanation
比喻两者之间差别巨大，如同天上的云彩和地上的泥土那样悬殊。
A metaphor to illustrate a huge difference between two things, as different as the clouds in the sky and the mud on the earth.
Origin Story
从前，在一个小山村里住着两个年轻人，一个是勤劳勇敢的樵夫李大壮，一个是好吃懒做的富家子弟张公子。李大壮每天上山砍柴，辛勤劳作，日子虽然清苦，却也过得充实快乐。张公子则整日游手好闲，挥霍家财，过着骄奢淫逸的生活。几年后，李大壮凭借自己的双手盖起了新房，娶妻生子，过上了幸福美满的生活。而张公子却因挥霍无度，家道中落，沦为乞丐，流落街头。两人的人生境遇，判若云泥，形成了鲜明的对比。这个故事告诉我们，勤劳致富，懒惰致贫，人生的道路是自己选择的，命运掌握在自己手中。
Once upon a time, in a small mountain village, there lived two young men: Li Dazhuang, a diligent and brave woodcutter, and Zhang Gongzi, a lazy and wealthy young master. Li Dazhuang went to the mountains every day to chop wood, working diligently, and although his life was simple, he lived a full and happy life. Zhang Gongzi, on the other hand, idled away his days, squandering his family's fortune, and living a life of luxury and debauchery. After a few years, Li Dazhuang, with his own hands, built a new house, married, had children, and lived a happy and fulfilling life. Zhang Gongzi, however, due to his extravagance, fell into poverty, became a beggar, and ended up on the streets. The life circumstances of the two men were worlds apart, forming a stark contrast. This story tells us that diligence leads to wealth, laziness to poverty, that the path of life is one's own choice, and fate is in one's own hands.
Usage
用作谓语、定语；指差别很大。
Used as predicate or attributive; indicates a huge difference.
Examples
-
他的成就与我的差距，判若云泥。
tā de chéngjiù yǔ wǒ de chājù, pàn ruò yún ní
His achievements and mine are worlds apart.
-
他们的生活水平判若云泥，一个富裕，一个贫困。
tāmen de shēnghuó shuǐpíng pàn ruò yún ní, yīgè fùyù, yīgè pínkùn
Their living standards are worlds apart; one is rich, the other poor.