異 means “different, unusual”

ことなる · kotonaru

Also: uncommon, queerness, strangeness

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): こと, ことなる, け
On'yomi (Chinese reading): イ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 11 strokes

The story

A field (田) above a pair of raised hands (共): picture someone holding up a strange mask to the crowd. 異なる is to differ, 異常 is abnormal, and every April Japanese offices brace for 人事異動, the reshuffle of who works where.

Used in 異なる (kotonaru, to differ), 異常 (ijou, abnormal), and 異動 (idou, transfer/reassignment)

異 means “different, unusual”

The story

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