Definitions
About
The character 差 (chā, chà, chāi, cī) has a complex etymology, originally depicting a hand husking ears of grain. Its modern form combines a modified sheep radical ⺷ atop the character for work 工. The original sense involved the unevenness of grain stalks during husking, which developed into the core meaning of difference, discrepancy, or error. From this foundation, its semantic range expands with pronunciation: it can denote something lacking or inferior, the dispatch of a person on an official errand, or an irregular, jagged arrangement.
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。