Definitions
(noun)
difference; discrepancy; error
(verb,adjective)
to differ from; to fall short of; inferior
(verb)
to send; to dispatch
About
The character "差" structurally conveys its core notion of divergence through a composition that integrates elements suggestive of left-handed or irregular labor, which historically informed its early meanings of unevenness and difference. Its etymological foundation in denoting discrepancy allowed for a semantic expansion to include error, shortfall, and the administrative act of dispatching someone, while further developments introduced meanings related to inferior quality and mathematical difference. The graphical form of "差" has remained consistent over time, retaining the same construction in both traditional and modern contexts, which contrasts with its adaptive and polysemous nature in language use.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我差不多准备好了。
他差一点摔倒了。
这个电影真差劲。
爸爸下周要出差。
这两本书差别很大。
我们的成绩有差距。
他给我一份好差事。
两者之间的差异很明显。