How to say "variation" in Japanese

• 変化へんかJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'variation' as change or alteration — the way something shifts or fluctuates, as in variations in temperature. Choose this when 'variation' means a change taking place, not a version of something.
  このような接し方せっしかたの変化へんかは、他たの変化へんかもそうであるが、他たの国くににおいても起おこっている。↗

  Like other changes, this change in attitude has occurred in other countries, too.
• 差さJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Points to 'variation' as a difference between things — a gap or disparity in amount, degree, or quality, as in price or regional differences. It names the difference itself, not a variant or a change.
  彼かれの馬うまは３馬身ばしんの差さで勝かった。↗

  His horse won by three lengths.
• バリエーションCommon
  nounThe loanword for 'variation' as a variant or version: different forms, designs, or styles within a set, as in variations of a product or design. Also used for variety in how something is done.
  ただ、毎日まいにちだとさすがに飽あきるだろう。もっと料理りょうりのバリエーションを増ふやさないと。↗

  It's just if we have it every day we're bound to get fed up with it. I must increase the variety of my cooking.
• 変形へんけいCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveGlossed 'variation', but really about transformation: a change of shape or form, deformation, metamorphosis. Seldom the word you want for ordinary 'variation' — reach for it only when something actually changes form.
  私の議論ぎろんはある意味いみでは、『孤独こどくな群集ぐんしゅう』でデビュド・リースマンが行おこなった議論ぎろんを変形へんけいしたものである。↗

  In a sense, I am turning around the argument made by David Riesman in The Lonely Crowd.
• 相違そういJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbMeans a difference or discrepancy between things — a point where they fail to match. For 'variation' it is marginal: it names a discrepancy, not a variant or a process of change.
  両者りょうしゃの間あいだには、あったとしても、相違そういはごくわずかである。↗

  There is little, if any, difference between the two.

Use 変化 for variation as change or alteration, 差 for a difference or gap between things, 「バリエーション」 for variants or versions, 相違 for discrepancies, and 変形 only for actual change of shape.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 変化へんかchange
• 差さdifference
• バリエーションvariation
• 変形へんけいtransformation
• 相違そういdifference
• 変奏曲へんそうきょくvariation
• 偏差へんさdeflection
• ばらつきunevenness (e.g. in quality)
• バリエvariation
• 変化形へんかけいvariation
• 変異形へんいけいvariation
• 変化量へんかりょうvariation
• 変分へんぶんvariation
• 別訳べつやくvariation
• 当たり外れあたりはずれmatter of hit-and-miss
• 変種へんしゅvariant
• 変型へんけいvariety
• 変状へんじょうdeformation
• 変奏へんそう(playing a) variation
• 変異へんいvariation
• 高下こうげdifference (rank, grade, quality, etc.)
• 振幅しんぷく(degree of) instability
• めりはりvariation
• 振れ幅ふれはば(degree of) instability