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差距 (chā jù) — disparity, gap

Definition

差距 is a 'gap' in level, income, or quality — a large, measurable difference. 差别 and 差异 are more neutral 'differences'; 落差 and 反差 highlight a drop or sharp contrast.

noun
disparitygap

Examples

  • 差距。
    Tā men liǎng gè rén de shōu rù chā jù hěn dà.
    The income gap between the two of them is large.
  • 差距。
    Nǐ hé wǒ zhī jiān de shuǐ píng chā jù bù xiǎo.
    The gap in skill between you and me is not small.
  • 差距。
    Zhè liǎng kuǎn shǒu jī de jià gé chā jù hěn xiǎo.
    The price gap between these two phone models is very small.

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
距jùdistance

差 means difference and 距 means distance; together they point to a gap between two sides.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
巨
巨jù距jù
Same sound today

距 puts 足, meaning foot, beside 巨, which gives its sound.

Open 距 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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