The Chinese word **差异 (chāyì)** is a compound formed by combining two semantically similar characters to create a nuanced meaning for "difference" or "discrepancy." The first character, **差 (chā)**, carries the core idea of discrepancy, divergence, or unevenness. The second character, **异 (yì)**, means "different," "unusual," or "separate." When paired, they reinforce and specialize each other: **差** provides the concept of a gap or variance, while **异** emphasizes the state of being distinct or other. Together, they form a single, cohesive term that is more abstract and formal than either character alone, specifically denoting a state of qualitative or quantitative distinction between compared items.