相差 (xiāng chà) — to differ (by a certain amount), to be differen…

Definition

Used when two things differ by a measurable amount (size, age, price). Unlike 区别 ('difference' in kind or quality), 相差 focuses on numerical gap.

verb

to differ (by a certain amount)to be different (in a measurable quantity)

相差。
Zhè liǎng běn shū de jià gé xiāng chà hěn dà.
The price of these two books differs greatly.
相差。
Tā men liǎng gè rén nián líng xiāng chà wǔ suì.
The two of them differ in age by five years.
相差。
Zhè liǎng gè xiāng zi de dà xiǎo xiāng chà hěn duō.
The size difference between these two boxes is large.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

相 contributes mutual or each other to 差, giving the idea of differing from one another.

Characters in this word

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

木目相

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

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

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

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