差 chà — poor, not up to standard
chà (fourth tone, falling)cha4
poor, not up to standard
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)adjectiveverb
Meanings
poor, not up to standard
Below the expected level — of work, health, weather, a result. It is the everyday opposite of 好 when a standard is in play.
adjectiveto be short of, to lack; to (in telling the time)
verb
Example sentences
- 他这次考试的成绩很差。他這次考試的成績很差。Tā (first tone, high and level) zhè (fourth tone, falling) cì (fourth tone, falling) kǎoshì (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) chéngjì (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) chà. (fourth tone, falling)···
His result in this exam was very poor.
- 现在差五分八点。現在差五分八點。Xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) chà (fourth tone, falling) wǔ (third tone, dipping) fēn (first tone, high and level) bā (first tone, high and level) diǎn. (third tone, dipping)···
It’s five to eight.
Common mistakes
Not quite现在八点差五分。
Correct现在差五分八点。
In telling the time, 差 comes first and names what is still missing: 差五分八点, "five short of eight". Putting it after the hour copies English word order.