TongTong
Sign in

差异 (chā yì) — difference, discrepancy

Definition

差异 (chāyì) is a formal noun for 'difference' or 'discrepancy', especially between abstract things like opinions, plans, or standards. 比 区别 more written; 比 差距 emphasizes a measurable gap in level or quality.

noun
differencediscrepancy

Examples

  • 差异。
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng fāng àn méi yǒu běn zhì chā yì.
    There is no essential difference between these two plans.
  • 差异。
    Chéng xiāng zhī jiān de shēng huó shuǐ píng chā yì hěn dà.
    There is a big difference in living standards between urban and rural areas.
  • 差异。
    Tā men liǎ de guān diǎn cún zài míng xiǎn chā yì.
    There is a clear discrepancy between their views.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

差chàdifference
异yìdifferent

差 means difference and 异 means different; together they denote a difference between things.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 來來láiwheat
  • 𠂇𠂇𠂇left hand

差 pairs 來 (wheat) with 𠂇 (left hand), showing wheat rubbed in a hand to remove its hull.

Open 差 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.