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Words Kanji Guides About

差異 (さい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

差さ異い

さ

い

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

difference; disparity; gap

Formal noun for a measurable or conceptual difference between things. Often used in analytical, academic, or business contexts. Less casual than 違い.

両りょう者しゃの意い見けんには大おおきな差さ異いがある。
There is a significant difference between the two opinions.
このデータからは明めい確かくな差さ異いは見みられない。
No clear disparity can be seen from this data.

Written forms

差さ異いUsage97%
Standard kanji form; commonly used in news and formal writing.
差さ違いUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; may be encountered in older or very formal texts.

Kanji

差distinction, difference, variation

異uncommon, different, queerness

違difference, differ

Similar words

違ちがい
違い is the common, everyday word for 'difference'. 差異 is more formal and often used in written or analytical contexts.
差さ
差 is a broader term for 'difference' or 'gap', often used in mathematical or quantitative contexts (e.g., 差が開く). 差異 emphasizes qualitative or conceptual differences.

Etymology

Compound of 差 (difference) and 異 (different). The combination reinforces the idea of a distinction or disparity.