千差万別
千差万別（せんさばんべつ／せんさまんべつ // a great variety; extremely varied）
↑ Although we're listing two possible readings for this 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご // four-character compound word), it's most common to use the reading せんさばんべつ. Some dictionaries go so far as to say that せんさまんべつ is actually incorrect.
The meaning of this 四字熟語 isn't hard to guess when you see a kanji-by-kanji breakdown:
千 (thousand)
差 (distinction)
万 (ten thousand)
別 (separate)
If something is extremely varied, I suppose you could say that it has a thousand — no, ten thousand! — separate distinctions. ^_^
Here are a couple of example sentences:
先週行ったアンケートには、千差万別の回答が寄せられた。
せんしゅう おこなった アンケート に は、 せんさばんべつ の かいとう が よせられた。
A wide variety of answers were submitted in the survey that was conducted last week.
Literally: “last week + carried out + survey + に + は, + a great variety + の + answer + が + was collected / was gathered.”
みそ汁の作り方は家庭によって千差万別です。
みそしる の つくりかた は かてい によって せんさばんべつ です。
The way to make miso soup differs from family to family. // Each family has their own way of making miso soup, making for an endless variety of recipes.
Literally: “miso soup + の + way of making + は + family / household + depending on + a great variety + です.”
Well, then, let's go to kanji town...
Meaning of 千：thousand
Heisig Keyword: thousand
この山の標高は約５千メートルです。
この やま の ひょうこう は やく ごせん メートル です。
The elevation of this mountain is about 5,000 meters.
Literally: “this + mountain + の + elevation + は + about / approximately + 5 thousand + meters + です.”
Meaning of 差：distinction, difference, variation
Heisig Keyword: distinction
たった２点の差で負けた。
たった に てん の さ で まけた。
I [We] lost by a mere two points.
Literally: “only / merely + 2 + points + の + difference + で + lost.”
Meaning of 万：ten thousand
Heisig Keyword: ten thousand
あたし１万円札しかない。
あたし いちまん えん さつ しか ない。
I only have 10,000-yen bills.
Literally: “I (=[feminine]) + 10,000 + yen + bill / note + except for + don’t have / there isn’t.”
Meaning of 別：separate, another, extra, specially
Heisig Keyword: separate
SDカードは別売りです。
エスディーカード は べつうり です。
SD cards are sold separately.
Literally: “SD card + は + sold separately + です.”
Are you feeling like the kanji master yet?
Or at least ready to tackle these example sentences once more?
先週行ったアンケートには、千差万別の回答が寄せられた。
せんしゅう おこなった アンケート に は、 せんさばんべつ の かいとう が よせられた。
A wide variety of answers were submitted in the survey that was conducted last week.
Literally: “last week + carried out + survey + に + は, + a great variety + の + answer + が + was collected / was gathered.”
みそ汁の作り方は家庭によって千差万別です。
みそしる の つくりかた は かてい によって せんさばんべつ です。
The way to make miso soup differs from family to family. // Each family has their own way of making miso soup, making for an endless variety of recipes.
Literally: “miso soup + の + way of making + は + family / household + depending on + a great variety + です.”
And you're finished!
お疲れ！（おつかれ！）
↑ Although we're listing two possible readings for this 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご // four-character compound word), it's most common to use the reading せんさばんべつ. Some dictionaries go so far as to say that せんさまんべつ is actually incorrect.
The meaning of this 四字熟語 isn't hard to guess when you see a kanji-by-kanji breakdown:
千 (thousand)
差 (distinction)
万 (ten thousand)
別 (separate)
If something is extremely varied, I suppose you could say that it has a thousand — no, ten thousand! — separate distinctions. ^_^
Here are a couple of example sentences:
先週行ったアンケートには、千差万別の回答が寄せられた。
せんしゅう おこなった アンケート に は、 せんさばんべつ の かいとう が よせられた。
A wide variety of answers were submitted in the survey that was conducted last week.
Literally: “last week + carried out + survey + に + は, + a great variety + の + answer + が + was collected / was gathered.”
みそ汁の作り方は家庭によって千差万別です。
みそしる の つくりかた は かてい によって せんさばんべつ です。
The way to make miso soup differs from family to family. // Each family has their own way of making miso soup, making for an endless variety of recipes.
Literally: “miso soup + の + way of making + は + family / household + depending on + a great variety + です.”
Well, then, let's go to kanji town...
Meaning of 千：thousand
Heisig Keyword: thousand
この山の標高は約５千メートルです。
この やま の ひょうこう は やく ごせん メートル です。
The elevation of this mountain is about 5,000 meters.
Literally: “this + mountain + の + elevation + は + about / approximately + 5 thousand + meters + です.”
Meaning of 差：distinction, difference, variation
Heisig Keyword: distinction
たった２点の差で負けた。
たった に てん の さ で まけた。
I [We] lost by a mere two points.
Literally: “only / merely + 2 + points + の + difference + で + lost.”
Meaning of 万：ten thousand
Heisig Keyword: ten thousand
あたし１万円札しかない。
あたし いちまん えん さつ しか ない。
I only have 10,000-yen bills.
Literally: “I (=[feminine]) + 10,000 + yen + bill / note + except for + don’t have / there isn’t.”
Meaning of 別：separate, another, extra, specially
Heisig Keyword: separate
SDカードは別売りです。
エスディーカード は べつうり です。
SD cards are sold separately.
Literally: “SD card + は + sold separately + です.”
Are you feeling like the kanji master yet?
Or at least ready to tackle these example sentences once more?
先週行ったアンケートには、千差万別の回答が寄せられた。
せんしゅう おこなった アンケート に は、 せんさばんべつ の かいとう が よせられた。
A wide variety of answers were submitted in the survey that was conducted last week.
Literally: “last week + carried out + survey + に + は, + a great variety + の + answer + が + was collected / was gathered.”
みそ汁の作り方は家庭によって千差万別です。
みそしる の つくりかた は かてい によって せんさばんべつ です。
The way to make miso soup differs from family to family. // Each family has their own way of making miso soup, making for an endless variety of recipes.
Literally: “miso soup + の + way of making + は + family / household + depending on + a great variety + です.”
And you're finished!
お疲れ！（おつかれ！）
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