Meaning of 差别
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- difference; distinction; disparity
How to use 差别
差别 is a noun for the difference or gap between things, often used with 有 (yǒu) or 没有 and with words like 很大 (hěn dà) or 不大. Example: 这两个词的意思有什么差别？(Zhè liǎng gè cí de yìsi yǒu shénme chābié?) What is the difference in meaning between these two words?
差 (chā) means a gap or shortfall, and 别 (bié) means separate or other. When two things fall short of each other and stand apart, you see their 差别, the difference between them.
Common mistake: Learners often read 差 as chà, as in 差不多 (chàbuduō), but in 差别 it is first tone chā. Also, 差别 is only a noun, so do not use it as a verb meaning to tell apart; use 区别 (qūbié) or 分别 (fēnbié) for that.
差别 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
差 chà · different · 9 strokes
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别 bié · to leave · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 差别.
| 别人 | biérén | other people; others; other person |
| 别的 | biéde | else; other |
| 特别 | tèbié | unusual; special; very; especially; particularly |
| 差不多 | chàbuduō | almost; nearly |
| 区别 | qūbié | difference; to distinguish |
| 分别 | fēnbié | to part; to leave each other; to distinguish; to tell apart |
| 告别 | gàobié | to leave; to part from; to bid farewell to; to say goodbye to |
| 性别 | xìngbié | sex; gender |
| 个别 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare |
| 出差 | chūchāi | to go on an official or business trip |
| 差距 | chājù | disparity; gap |
| 差点儿 | chàdiǎnr | erhua variant of 差點|差点[cha4 dian3] |
Questions about 差别
What does 差别 mean?
差别 (chābié) means "difference; distinction; disparity" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 差别?
差别 is made of 2 characters: 差 (9 strokes), 别 (7 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 差别 an HSK word?
Yes. 差别 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 差别 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 差别 is written 差別.
What is the difference between 差别 and 区别?
Both can mean difference as a noun, but 区别 can also be a verb meaning to distinguish. 差别 tends to stress a gap or disparity in degree, as in 贫富差别 (pínfù chābié), the gap between rich and poor.
How do I say there is no difference with 差别?
Say 没有差别 (méiyǒu chābié) or 没什么差别 (méi shénme chābié). For a small difference, say 差别不大 (chābié bú dà).