What's the difference between 差異 and 差別?

Question

Do both of them mean "difference?" Not sure if they are the same part of speech or if they are interchangeable.

Answer 1

Both 差異 and 差別 mean "difference"

• 差異 = (physical) difference

• 差別 = (physical or metaphorical) difference

Example:

这两张牌全无差異/这两张牌全无差別 (these two cards have no difference)

the two cards are physically the same

对我而言，有机食品和普通食品之间並无差别 (to me, there's no difference between organic foods and common foods)

the two products have the same food value to me

you cannot replace 差别 with 差異 here because the difference between them is not physical but of value in your opinion.

One more example for 差别 used to describe metaphorical difference:

输给彼得或输给保罗是一样的，没有什么差别 (lose to Peter or lose to Paul are the same, there's no difference)

the main point is you lose

Again, you cannot use 差異 instead of 差别 here because the focus is not on the physical difference between 'lose to Peter' and 'lose to Paul' . The focus is on the win or lose result)

Answer 2

In addition to Tang Ho's answer, one of the major difference between these 2 words is:

差異 is usually used when measurement is involved.

Say if you're comparing the weather between 2 countries:

1. The weather between Canada and Africa differ greatly
   加拿大和非洲之間的天氣差別很大
2. The temperature between Canada and Africa differ greatly
   加拿大與非洲之間的氣溫差異很大

Note that some of the metaphorical differences (as mentioned from Tang) might not be as 'measurable', such as culture, knowledge, etc.

Answer 3

simple to say

差異 = difference; divergence; discrepancy; diversity; odds; variation

e.g：

气候差异 difference in climate

文化差异 cultural diversity

看法上的差异 difference of opinion

refer：https://www.jayxun.com/what/7AHT

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差別 = difference; division; distinction

e.g：

缩小城乡差别 narrow the gap between town and country

年龄差别 difference in age

质量与数量上的差别 qualitative and quantitative differences

你去不去没什么差别。 It makes little difference whether you go or not.

refer dict： https://www.jayxun.com/what/7AJv