異(い)

い

noun

objection, difference

1. objection, dissent

A statement of disagreement or opposition.

異(い)を唱(とな)える。

To raise an objection.

Formal expression

異(い)を挟(はさ)む余地(よち)はない。

There is no room for objection.

異(い)なし。

No objection.

Formal/legal

2. difference, distinction

Something that is different or unusual.

異(こと)なる文化(ぶんか)。

A different culture.

異(こと)なる意見(いけん)を尊重(そんちょう)する。

To respect different opinions.

それは異(こと)なる問題(もんだい)だ。

That is a different matter.

異(い) has two main uses: as a noun meaning "objection" and as a prefix/modifier meaning "different" or "unusual." It appears frequently in formal and literary contexts.

AS "OBJECTION":

異(い)を唱(とな)える: to raise an objection
異(い)を挟(はさ)む: to interject an objection
異(い)なし: no objection (formal)
異(い)存(ぞん)ない: no objection (formal/humble)

AS "DIFFERENT/UNUSUAL" (prefix in compounds):

異常(いじょう): abnormal
異動(いどう): personnel transfer
異議(いぎ): objection, protest
異国(いこく): foreign country
異文化(いぶんか): different culture

NOTE:
異(こと)なる is a literary/formal equivalent of 違(ちが)う (different). It appears in written language: 異(こと)なる文化(ぶんか) (a different culture).

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:30 · Revised 2026.5.18 3:19

01500/01925_i