How to Say "Different" in Chinese

不同

bù tóng

In Chinese, the word for different is 不同 (bù tóng).

The term is used to describe things that are not the same.

Meaning: not the same (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The word 不同 is composed of 不, which means 'not' and 同, which means 'same'.

While 不同 is a standard way to express being different, the phrase 不一样 is a more common and colloquial way to say 'not the same' in spoken Chinese.

To express that something is 'different from' something else, you can use the construction 不同于 or the common phrase 与…不同.

bù tóng

To describe something as 'completely different', Chinese speakers often use 截然不同, where 截然 evokes the image of a clean cut with scissors.
Chinese has a specific term 异曲同工 which describes two different methods that lead to the same excellent result, literally meaning 'different tunes, same craftsmanship'.
The character 同 is also used in the word for 'fellowship' or 'companion', linking the concept of 'sameness' to the idea of 'being together'.

他总是与众不同。
He was always different.
This sentence shows how to use 不同 to describe being different.
Tatoeba #9012173 by jacintoo, translation #2798986 by Hybrid
我的想法与你不同。
My idea is different from yours.
This sentence shows how to use 不同 to express that an idea is different from another.
Tatoeba #2045065 by ydcok, translation #250876 by CK
我媽媽和我完全不同。
My mother and I are completely different.
Tatoeba #1971140 by egg0073, translation #5573307 by n1ls
他们在年龄上有很大的不同。
They have significant age differences.
我们的文化很不一样。
Our cultures are very different.
这两个观点存在一些差异。
These two viewpoints have some differences.
味道真不一样！
The taste is really different!
61 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two colleagues are discussing their styles of working.

浩然 Haoran

我们处理问题的方式不同。
Wǒmen chǔlǐ wèntí de fāngshì bùtóng.
The way we handle problems is different.
佳怡 Jiayi

是的，浩然，你比较细心。
Shì de, Hàorán, nǐ bǐjiào xìxīn.
Yes, Haoran, you are more careful.
浩然 Haoran

但佳怡，你的速度更快。
Dàn Jiāyí, nǐ de sùdù gèng kuài.
But Jiayi, your speed is faster.
佳怡 Jiayi

每个人都有不同的特点。
Měi gèrén dōu yǒu bùtóng de tèdiǎn.
Everyone has different characteristics.

Sources

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