How to say "disparity" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 格差かくさnounThe default word for a gap in level, amount, or condition between groups — income, regional, or educational disparities. It presents the difference as a gap between a higher and a lower side.
- 差異さいnounA neutral word for a difference or discrepancy between two things; it states only that they differ, without the image of a wide gap, and fits comparisons of figures, data, or versions.
- 不釣合いふつりあいnoun, na-adjectivePoints to a mismatch or disproportion between two things — sizes, degrees, or qualities that are out of proportion with each other; its 'disparity' is this sense, not a gap between groups.
- 隔たりへだたりnounBuilt on the idea of distance: a disparity felt as a wide divide that separates two sides — in feeling, understanding, or degree — rather than a figure on a chart.
- 不均衡ふきんこうna-adjective, nounReally means imbalance or lopsidedness — a state in which things are out of balance — and matches 'disparity' only through that disproportion sense; for disparity itself, 格差 or 差異 is usually the word you want.
Use 格差 for gaps between groups in level or condition, 差異 for neutral differences between things, 「不釣合い」 for mismatch or disproportion, 「隔たり」 for a wide divide in feeling or understanding, and 不均衡 for imbalance rather than disparity proper.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
