千差万別(せんさばんべつ)

せんさばんべつ
noun (four-character idiom)
great variety; wide diversity
1. great variety, wide diversity
Describes an extremely wide range of differences; many different kinds or types with no two alike.
人(ひと)の価値観(かちかん)は千差万別(せんさばんべつ)だ。
People's values are infinitely diverse.
意見(いけん)は千差万別(せんさばんべつ)で、一致(いっち)を見(み)なかった。
Opinions varied widely and no consensus was reached.
花(はな)の種類(しゅるい)は千差万別(せんさばんべつ)である。
There is a great variety of flower species.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)):
千差(せんさ) (a thousand differences) + 万別(ばんべつ) (ten thousand distinctions)

COMPONENTS:

  • 千(せん): thousand
  • 差(さ): difference
  • 万(まん)/{ばん}: ten thousand
  • 別(べつ): distinction, separate

LITERAL MEANING:
"A thousand differences and ten thousand distinctions" - emphasizing vast diversity.

USAGE PATTERNS:

  • 千差万別(せんさばんべつ)だ/である (is infinitely varied)
  • 千差万別(せんさばんべつ)の～ (various kinds of ~)
  • 千差万別(せんさばんべつ)で (being diverse...)

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 多種多様(たしゅたよう): many kinds, diverse (more common, similar meaning)
  • 十人十色(じゅうにんといろ): ten people, ten colors (emphasizes individual differences)
  • 様々(さまざま): various (simpler expression)

Related Words

Synonym: 多種多様(たしゅたよう) (diverse)
general
Added 2026.1.17 15:48 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:34
06000/06245_sensabanbetsu