(chà)

HSK 19 strokes
Readingschàchāchāi

difference

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
chà / chā / chāi / cī
Meaning
difference; discrepancy; (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction); (literary) a little; somewhat; slightly
Strokes
9
HSK level
HSK 1
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿸羊工

Work 工 done by a sheep 羊; incompetence

A combination of parts whose meanings add up to the whole.

Made of

Parts are arranged enclosing from the upper left.

How to write step by step

9 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

chūchāi
HSK 5

to go on an official or business trip

Open 出差 page →
chābié
HSK 5

difference; distinction; disparity

Open 差别 page →
chā
HSK 5

disparity; gap

Open 差距 page →
chā
HSK 6

difference; discrepancy

Open 差异 page →
fǎnchā
HSK 7-9

contrast; discrepancy

Open 反差 page →
chācuò
HSK 7-9

mistake; slip-up; fault; error

Open 差错 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 差?

Trace 差 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.