段違(だんちが)い

Literally means being on different steps or levels (段(だん) = step/level, 違(ちが)い = difference). Describes a gap in quality or ability that is not just noticeable but dramatic.

Common collocations

• 段違(だんちが)いの差(さ): an overwhelming difference
• 段違(だんちが)いに良(よ)い: incomparably better
• 段違(だんちが)いの実力(じつりょく): ability on a different level
• 段違(だんちが)いに速(はや)い: incomparably faster

Similar words

• 桁違(けたちが)い: on a different order of magnitude; emphasizes numerical scale, while 段違(だんちが)い emphasizes quality or skill
• 格段(かくだん)に: remarkably, significantly; more formal and used adverbially
• 雲泥(うんでい)の差(さ): a world of difference (literally "the difference between clouds and mud"); more literary

Usage

Also used in gymnastics: 段違(だんちが)い平行棒(へいこうぼう) means uneven parallel bars.