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相差 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
相差xiāngchàto differHSK 6, v, 18 strokes, rank #16904, Hard
相差xiāngchàdiscrepancy betweenHSK 6, v, 18 strokes, rank #16904, Hard
xiāngchà(xiang1cha4)xiang cha T1
  1. 1to differ
  2. 2discrepancy between
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March 24, 2026

相差xiāngchà(xiang1cha4)

相差 (xiāng chà) refers to the difference or discrepancy between two or more things. It is commonly used in contexts where comparisons are made, such as discussing variations in quality, quantity, or opinion. The term can convey both minor differences and significant gaps.

Strokes18Frequency#16904DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese society, the concept of 相差 can often relate to social and economic disparities, which are significant issues. This term may come up in discussions about wealth differences between regions or social classes.

Memory Tip

Imagine two people standing on opposite sides of a large chasm (差), each holding a sign that says '相' (xiāng) or 'together.' This visual represents how they differ from each other across the gap, helping you remember both the meaning of ‘difference’ and the pronunciation.

Meanings of 相差

xiāngchà(xiang1cha4)
1to differ
2discrepancy between
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 相差

相差Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#16904Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 相差

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Podcast: 相差

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AI Study Notes for 相差

Quick Contrast

差异 (chāyì): use 相差 when emphasizing a measurable difference or discrepancy, while 差异 is more about the general notion of difference without the implication of measurement.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 相差 with other words like 差异 (chā yì), which also means 'difference' but is often used in more formal contexts. 相差 is more informal and is frequently used in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 相差 connects with other advanced vocabulary focused on comparison, such as 比较 (bǐ jiào, 'to compare') and 差距 (chā jù, 'gap'). Students should practice using 相差 in sentences to express differences clearly.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 相差 when they mean to say 'to compare.' For example, saying '我们可以相差这两个项目' (We can differ these two projects) should be corrected to '我们可以比较这两个项目' (We can compare these two projects).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 相差

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Component Characters

相Xiāngeach other
9 strokes目
View full entry
差chàto send
HSK 39 strokes工
View full entry

How to say to differ in Chinese

“to differ” in Chinese is相差xiāngchà

相差 (xiāng chà) refers to the difference or discrepancy between two or more things. It is commonly used in contexts where comparisons are made, such as discussing variations in quality, quantity, or opinion. The term can convey both minor differences and significant gaps.

When to use 相差

Common mistakes include confusing 相差 with other words like 差异 (chā yì), which also means 'difference' but is often used in more formal contexts. 相差 is more informal and is frequently used in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

相差 or something close to it

差异 (chāyì): use 相差 when emphasizing a measurable difference or discrepancy, while 差异 is more about the general notion of difference without the implication of measurement.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 相差 when they mean to say 'to compare.' For example, saying '我们可以相差这两个项目' (We can differ these two projects) should be corrected to '我们可以比较这两个项目' (We can compare these two projects).

Write 相差

相
差

Practice writing 相差 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 相差

相差 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

最终两队只____3分。

In the end only three points separated the two teams.

Example Sentences for 相差 (6)

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1
最终两队只相差3分。

zuì zhōng liǎng duì zhī xiāng chà3 3。

In the end only three points separated the two teams.
2
患有诵读困难症并不意味着智力低下。两者相差甚远。

huàn yǒu sòng dú kùn nán zhèng bìng bù yì wèi zháo zhì lì dī xià。 。 liǎng zhě xiāng chà shèn。

Being dyslexic does not mean that one is unintelligent. Far from it.
3
心理提示和确凿证据之间相差甚远。

xīn lǐ tí shì hé què záo zhèng jù zhī jiān xiāng chà shèn yuǎn。

There was a vast distance between psychological clues and concrete proof.
4
这与事实相差甚远。

zhè yǔ shì shí xiāng chà shèn yuǎn。

That's a long way from the truth.
5
两者相差甚远.

liǎng zhě xiāng chà shèn yuǎn.

There is a great deal of difference between the two.
6
瞬息变换中, 相差一秒就可能产生两种完全不同的结局.

shùn xī biàn huàn zhōng, , xiāng chà yī miǎo jiù kě néng chǎn shēng liǎng zhǒng wán quán bù tóng de jié.

In a blink of an eye, two entirely different outcomes can occur.
Exercise 1 of 1

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Rebuild it: “In the end only three points separated the two teams.”

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Frequently Asked Questions about 相差

You can say '他们的意见相差很大' (Their opinions differ greatly) to illustrate a significant difference.

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