差 (chà) - difference & discrepancy

差Tone 4

chà ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

差 · chà

difference;

discrepancy;

error;

to fall short;

poor quality;

uneven;

to send on an errand;

to dispatch;

to be absent

differencediscrepancyerror

Usage highlights

differencepoor qualityerrordisparitybusiness triptime difference

Synonyms

  • 异— different
  • 别— distinct
  • 劣— inferior

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a big difference between the two (差别很大).
  • The quality is quite poor (质量很差).
  • He was sent on a business trip (他出差了).
  • There is a time difference of three hours (时差三小时).

Collocations

  • difference(差别)
  • poor quality(差劲)
  • error(差错)
  • disparity(差距)
  • business trip(出差)
  • time difference(时差)

Idioms

  • A world of difference(天差地别)
  • Not much difference(相差无几)
  • To send on a mission(差强人意)
  • To be uneven and irregular(参差不齐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted sheep's wool of uneven length, conveying the concept of difference and inequality.
  • In traditional Chinese society, being 'sent on official business' (出差) was an important duty for officials.
  • The character reflects the Chinese philosophical concept of yin and yang - the idea that differences and contrasts are inherent in nature.

FAQ