字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

distinction, difference, variation, discrepancy, margin, balance

On’yomi サ
Kun’yomi さ.す、さ.し

Origin

The character 差 combines the sheep radical 羊, which appears in characters related to things that can vary or be evaluated, with the component 左, which serves as a sound hint for the pronunciation. The sheep radical suggests the idea of distinction or selection—comparing animals to choose the best one. Over time, this visual idea of comparing and choosing developed into the broader meaning of difference or distinction. The left component 左 doesn't contribute to the meaning but guides you toward the character's pronunciation.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint).

差 10 strokes

Components

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 格差 かくさ qualitative difference; disparity
  • 誤差 ごさ measurement error; calculation error
  • 交差 こうさ crossing; intersection
  • 差す さす to shine
  • 差異 さい difference; disparity
  • 差益 さえき marginal profits
  • 差額 さがく balance; difference (in price, cost)
  • 差別 さべつ distinction; differentiation

Related kanji

Same sound component 左
Same radical

Reference

Strokes
10
Kangxi radical
48
Grade
Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#449 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+05DEE