Chinese–EnglishWith examples

差

chā · cha/chà · cha/chāi · chai/cī · ci

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 1Old HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT

chā 差

  1. difference; discrepancy
  2. (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction)
  3. (literary) a little; somewhat; slightly

chà 差

  1. different
  2. wrong; mistaken
  3. to fall short; to lack
  4. not up to standard; inferior
  5. Taiwan pr. [chā]

chāi 差

  1. to send (on an errand)
  2. (archaic) person sent on such an errand
  3. job; official post

cī 差

  1. used in 參差 / 参差 (cēncī)
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

Five minutes to three

  1. Dengdeng

    现在(xiànzài)几点(jǐdiǎn)了(le)？

    What time is it now?

  2. Liangliang

    差(chà)五分(wǔfēn)三点(sāndiǎn)。

    Five to three.

  3. Dengdeng

    糟糕(zāogāo)，三点(sāndiǎn)要(yào)见(jiàn)琦琦(qíqí)，快(kuài)走(zǒu)！

    Oh no, we meet Qiqi at three. Let's hurry!

  4. Liangliang

    等(děng)一下(yīxià)，我(wǒ)差点(chàdiǎn)忘(wàng)了(le)带(dài)手机(shǒujī)。

    Wait, I almost forgot my phone.

  5. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)差点(chàdiǎn)害(hài)我们(wǒmen)迟到(chídào)了(le)！

    You almost made us late!

  6. Liangliang

    没事(méishì)，琦琦(qíqí)说(shuō)她(tā)也(yě)差(chà)十分钟(shífēnzhōng)才(cái)到(dào)。

    No worries. Qiqi says she is ten minutes short of arriving too.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)们(men)越(yuè)老(lǎo)，记(jì)忆(yì)力(lì)就(jiù)越(yuè)差(chà)。

The older we become, the worse our memory gets.

Tatoeba: Chinese by easononizuka · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

情(qíng)况(kuàng)一(yì)天(tiān)比(bǐ)一(yì)天(tiān)差(chà)。

The situation is getting worse and worse day by day.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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