異質(いしつ)

いしつ
na-adjective, noun
heterogeneous, different in nature
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:

  • 異質(いしつ)な存在(そんざい) (alien presence, something that doesn't fit)
  • 異質(いしつ)な文化(ぶんか) (fundamentally different culture)
  • 異質(いしつ)なものを排除(はいじょ)する (exclude what is different)
  • 異質(いしつ)性(せい) (heterogeneity)

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)
general
Added 2026.2.25 23:34
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