Used in formal or written contexts to indicate a difference of opinion or a discrepancy. Often appears in compounds like 異議 (objection) or 異論 (different opinion).
両者の意見には異がある。
There is a difference of opinion between the two parties.
The two of them differ in opinion.
Describes something that deviates from the norm, often with a nuance of peculiarity. Commonly used in the adjectival noun form 異だ or 異な.
彼の行動は異だ。
His behavior is strange.
異な雰囲気を感じた。
I felt an unusual atmosphere.
Prefix used in compounds to mean 'different' or 'other', such as 異文化 (different culture) or 異世界 (another world). Not used as a standalone word in this sense.
異文化コミュニケーションは難しい。
Cross-cultural communication is difficult.
違う is the everyday verb for 'to be different' or 'to be wrong', whereas 異 is a formal written noun/prefix rarely used alone.
変 is the casual adjectival noun for 'strange' or 'weird', while 異 carries the same meaning but in a much more formal, literary register.
同 as a prefix means 'the same' (as in 同一), directly opposing 異's prefix sense of 'different, other' (as in 異文化).
意 (meaning 'intention, meaning', as in 意味) shares the reading い with 異 but has an unrelated meaning, so learners can mix up compounds like 意義 and 異議.
abnormal; unusual; extraordinary
difference; disparity; gap
opposite sex · isomerism
wonder; miracle; marvel
unique; peculiar; singular
The kanji 異 has been used historically to express difference or strangeness. The reading い is the on'yomi, commonly used in compounds. The exact derivation of the word as a standalone term is uncertain, but it is associated with formal and literary registers.
heresy; heterodoxy; nonconformity
personnel change; transfer; reshuffle
strange; odd; peculiar; weird; bizarre; unusual
different opinion; objection
unusual event; abnormal occurrence; anomaly
foreign country; foreign land
different kind; heterogeneous; heterologous
variant; variant form · heteromorphism; heteromorphy
fantastic; grotesque; strange-looking
unique; distinctive; novel · different color
different in nature; heterogeneous; alien
another name; nickname; alias · synonym (biology)
pagan; heathen; heretic
offensive smell; stench; foul odor
mystery; strangeness; bizarre phenomenon · ghost; monster; apparition
different mother; half- (sibling)
strange tale; curious report
odd; strange; peculiar
paganism; heathenism; non-mainstream religion
conspicuousness; prominence; distinctiveness
abnormality; unusual condition; something wrong
foreigner; Westerner · different person; another person