異質(いしつ)

いしつ
na-adjective, noun
heterogeneous, different in nature
descriptive
1. heterogeneous, different in nature, alien
Fundamentally different in quality or nature from what surrounds it or from what is expected. Used to describe things, ideas, or people that do not fit in with the rest.
異質(いしつ)な存在(そんざい)として目立(めだ)っていた。
It stood out as something fundamentally different.
この作品(さくひん)は彼(かれ)の他(ほか)の小説(しょうせつ)とは異質(いしつ)な雰囲気(ふんいき)を持(も)っている。
This work has a distinctly different atmosphere from his other novels.
異質(いしつ)な文化(ぶんか)を受(う)け入(い)れることは簡単(かんたん)ではないが、多様性(たようせい)を認(みと)める社会(しゃかい)には不可欠(ふかけつ)だ。
Accepting fundamentally different cultures is not easy, but it is indispensable for a society that values diversity.

Usage

Used as a na-adjective (異質(いしつ)な) or noun. Describes something that is qualitatively different from its surroundings or from what is expected. Can be neutral or carry a slightly negative nuance of not fitting in. The antonym is 同質(どうしつ) (homogeneous).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 同質(どうしつ): homogeneous (antonym)
  • 異様(いよう): bizarre, strange (more about appearance or atmosphere)
  • 異種(いしゅ): different kind, different species (categorically different)

Related Words

Related: 異常(いじょう) (abnormal)
Compare: 異様(いよう) (bizarre, strange)
Compare: 異種(いしゅ) (different kind, different species)
general
Added 2026.2.25 23:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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