<p>I would interpret 差 as short of/lack, as in &quot;we are 15 minutes short from reaching 9 o'clock.&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-09T04:54:15.117Z
2020-10-09T04:54:15.117Z
Kyrie English
<p>It literally means <code>differ</code>. <code>差一刻九点</code> means <code>a quarter to nine</code>. <code>差</code> in the phrase <code>差一点</code> and <code>差几块钱/几个月</code> means the same, that is, adding the amount missed will turn the current situation into the target situation (could be better or worse).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-25T22:59:33.583Z
I see. It shows how lack something to target. Xiexie
Boris Ivanov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-26T20:33:47.433Z
@BorisIvanov It means `differ`, not necessarily `lack`. However in the examples in this answer you can safely interpret it as `lack`.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-26T20:59:22.023Z
When u say differ it means it can be over target, but in this example its not reaching it. Can you use it if u gave more money?(差几块钱)
Boris Ivanov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-26T22:20:50.110Z
I guess it's always lack regarding payment, because you are paying from 0 up to the required amount... but if your target is towards a smaller value, such as running time in sports, it is not _lack_ numerically. For instance, 差0.1秒就能进决赛了, means one takes 0.1 second longer than the cutting line to be qualified for the final round.
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-25T22:47:25.397Z
2013-11-25T22:47:25.397Z
user58955
<p>I have difficulties understanding sentence.
What is meaning of 差 in the following sentence?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我看一下，现在差一刻九点。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-27T19:52:18.197Z
I would normally say 九点差一刻. Regional difference maybe?
deutschZuid
<meaning>
Meaning of 差 in 现在差一刻九点?
# Meaning of 差 in 现在差一刻九点?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-25)

I have difficulties understanding sentence.
What is meaning of 差 in the following sentence?

> 我看一下，现在差一刻九点。

**Tags:** meaning
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I would normally say 九点差一刻. Regional difference maybe?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-11-25. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

It literally means `differ`. `差一刻九点` means `a quarter to nine`. `差` in the phrase `差一点` and `差几块钱/几个月` means the same, that is, adding the amount missed will turn the current situation into the target situation (could be better or worse).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I see. It shows how lack something to target. Xiexie  
> **username_4**: @BorisIvanov It means `differ`, not necessarily `lack`. However in the examples in this answer you can safely interpret it as `lack`.  
> **username_0**: When u say differ it means it can be over target, but in this example its not reaching it. Can you use it if u gave more money?(差几块钱)  
> **username_3**: I guess it's always lack regarding payment, because you are paying from 0 up to the required amount... but if your target is towards a smaller value, such as running time in sports, it is not _lack_ numerically. For instance, 差0.1秒就能进决赛了, means one takes 0.1 second longer than the cutting line to be qualified for the final round.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-10-09. Score: 0

I would interpret 差 as short of/lack, as in "we are 15 minutes short from reaching 9 o'clock."


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