expression, ichidan verb
establish a lead; gain an advantage
Used in competitive contexts (sports, business, games) to indicate pulling ahead of an opponent.
後半で一気に差をつけて勝った。
They pulled ahead decisively in the second half and won.
ライバル会社に差をつけるために新製品を投
They launched a new product to gain an edge over their rival company.
expression, ichidan verb
distinguish; tell the difference; discriminate
Focuses on discerning or making a distinction between things, often used in contexts of judgment or perception. Less common than sense 1.
プロは微妙な音の差をつけることができる。
A professional can distinguish subtle differences in sound.
この二つの色の差をつけるのは難しい。
It's hard to tell the difference between these two colors.