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反差 (fǎn chā) — contrast (often sharp or striking); discrepancy

Definition

反差 emphasizes a striking, often surprising contrast between two things (e.g. appearance vs reality). 差距 is a neutral gap or disparity (skills, scores), not a visual/emotional contrast.

noun
contrast (often sharp or striking)discrepancy

Examples

  • 反差。
    Zhè liǎng zhāng zhào piàn de fǎn chā hěn dà.
    The contrast between these two photos is very big.
  • ，反差。
    Tā píng shí hěn wēn róu, dàn shēng qì shí de fǎn chā ràng rén chī jīng.
    He is usually gentle, but the contrast when he's angry is surprising.
  • 反差。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng yòng qiáng liè de fǎn chā lái biǎo xiàn zhǔ tí.
    This movie uses strong contrast to express its theme.

Origin

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.

反fǎnopposite
差chàdifference

反 means opposite and 差 means difference; together they point to a sharp contrast between things.

Characters in this word

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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