How is 差 pronounced?

差 is pronounced “chā” in pinyin.

What HSK level is 差?

差 belongs to HSK 3 in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.

How do you write 差?

Follow the stroke-order animation above; 差 is written using standard stroke order. Practice it in the writing trainer.

HSK 3adjectiveverb

差

chā

差 (chā) means “difference; discrepancy; (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction); (literary) a little; somewhat; slightly”. It is an HSK 3 Chinese character in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.

Stroke order

Practice writingUnlock HSK 3 required

Example

我们只差一分钟。

Wǒmen zhǐ chà yī fēnzhōng.

We differ by only one minute.

Words containing 差

差不多chà bu duōalmost; nearly; more or less; about the same; good enough; not bad 出差chū chāito go on an official or business trip 差距chā jùdisparity; gap 差别chā biédifference; distinction; disparity 时差shí chātime difference; time lag; jet lag 偏差piān chābias; deviation 误差wù chādifference; error; inaccuracy 相差xiāng chàto differ 差异chā yìdifference; discrepancy 差点儿chà diǎn rerhua variant of 差点; almost; nearly 差一点儿chà yī diǎn rerhua variant of 差一点; almost; nearly

More HSK 3 vocabulary

HSK 3 →

阿姨ā yímaternal aunt; step-mother; childcare worker; nursemaid; woman of similar age to one's parents (term of address used by child)啊āinterjection of surprise; Ah!; Oh!矮ǎilow; short (in length)爱好ài hàoto like; to be fond of; to take pleasure in; to be keen on; interest; hobby 安静ān jìngquiet; peaceful; calm 把bǎto hold; to grasp; to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate; handlebar; classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles; (used to put the object before the verb: 把 + {noun} + {verb})班bānsurname Ban 搬bānto move (i.e. relocate oneself); to move (sth relatively heavy or bulky); to shift; to copy indiscriminately 办法bàn fǎmeans; method; way (of doing sth)办公室bàn gōng shìoffice; business premises; bureau 半bànhalf; semi-; incomplete; (after a number) and a half 帮忙bāng mángto help; to lend a hand; to do a favor; to do a good turn

Frequently asked questions

What does 差 mean?: 差 (chā) means “difference; discrepancy; (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction); (literary) a little; somewhat; slightly”. It is an HSK 3 word.
How is 差 pronounced?: 差 is pronounced “chā” in pinyin.
What HSK level is 差?: 差 belongs to HSK 3 in the HSK 3.0 vocabulary.
How do you write 差?: Follow the stroke-order animation above; 差 is written using standard stroke order. Practice it in the writing trainer.

Updated: 2026-05-27