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Difference difference

I Have a Question
#1

Hi @YuQinCai, @Constance_Fang @Fiona and the ChinesePod team, my question is this:

In Chinese there seems to be so many way of saying difference. Could you explain the difference between them. For example 差异 差距 差别 区别 不一样。

Thanks，

Sam

#2

This is a good Qing Wen request

#3

Hey Sam,

Yeah sometimes I am also confused by these words.

  1. 差异 normally refers to the difference of two objects in terms of their characteristics etc.
    e.g. 这两种植物存在耐寒性方面存在某种差异
    I think 差异 is often used on the article or paper for a certain academic research.

  2. 差别 and 区别 look like the synonym. I think they are interchangeable.
    e.g. 请说一下这两个字的差别 or 请说一下这两个字的区别

  3. 差距 refers to how much difference there is between two objects you want to compare. e.g. 发展中国
    家和发达国家仍然存在很大的差距。

Let me know your thoughts.