不同

• Pinyin: bù tóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (bù) — not; 同 (tóng) — same, identical, together

Meaning

Different; distinct; not the same. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Describes a difference between two or more things. Can function as an adjective before a noun or as a predicate.

Examples

1. 每个人对幸福的理解都不同。 Everyone's understanding of happiness is different.
2. 这两种方法各有不同的优点。 These two methods each have their own distinct advantages.
3. 来自不同国家的学生聚在一起学习。 Students from different countries gather together to study.

Usage Guide

Context: comparison, description, academic writing, everyday speech

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们的看法有些不同。(Our views are somewhat different.)
• 不同的文化有不同的习惯。(Different cultures have different customs.)

Don't Say

• Avoid confusing 不同 with 不一样 — both mean 'different,' but 不一样 is more colloquial and emotional, while 不同 is neutral and fits both formal and informal contexts.

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (bù, not) + 同 (tóng, same, identical). Literally 'not the same.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal