uncommon, different, queerness, strangeness, wonderful, curious, unusual
異 centers on being not the same as others: different, uncommon, or unusual. The senses of queerness, strangeness, wonderful, and curious are natural extensions of standing out from the ordinary.
異 is thought to combine 田 (field) and 共 (together), but the exact historical development is uncertain. The modern form may be a simplification or recombination of older components.
A field 田 that is shared 共 by everyone is common, but 異 is the opposite: a field that is different, strange, and uncommon.
For イ, imagine an eagle (イーグル) soaring over a strange, unusual field: eagle -> イ, and the field below is unlike any other.
to differ; to be different; to disagree; to vary; to diverge
abnormal; unusual; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon
difference; disparity; gap
the opposite sex
wonder; miracle; amazement; prodigy
unique; peculiar; singular
exceptional; unusual; extraordinary; unprecedented; singular
objection; dissent; protest
heresy; nonconformism; heathenism; paganism
(personnel) change; transfer; relocation; reassignment; reshuffle
strange; odd; peculiar; weird; bizarre; unusual
different opinion; objection
unusual event; strange occurrence; strange phenomenon; something abnormal; change (for the worse); accident; disaster
foreign substance; foreign body; foreign contamination; foreign material
foreign country
unique; distinctive; novel; singular; unusual; special
different (quality, nature); heterogeneous
another name; nickname; alias
odd; strange; queer; peculiar
something wrong; something unusual; abnormality; disorder; trouble; change
to differ depending on ...
personnel change; personnel shift; reshuffle; (annual) staff reassignment
(saying) with one voice; unanimously; in chorus; in unison; as one
variant (in a manuscript or book); part of a text that differs from other versions