Definitions
(noun)
difference; discrepancy; error
(verb,adjective)
to differ from; to fall short of; inferior
(verb)
to send; to dispatch
About
The character "差" is structurally composed of the components "羊" meaning sheep and "工" meaning work, with its formation suggesting an act of sorting or differentiating, such as in wool processing, which led to its core meaning of "difference" or "to differ". From this fundamental sense, it developed meanings of discrepancy and error, hence "mistake" or "fault", and by extension, it came to denote something inferior or of poor quality when deviating from a standard. Additionally, it acquired the verbal sense "to send on a mission" or "to dispatch", derived from the concept of assigning a task that creates a distinction, while in mathematical contexts, it retains the original notion of difference as in subtraction.
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。