The kanji 異 generally conveys the meaning of "different," "unusual," "strange," or "other." It implies a divergence from the norm, a deviation from the expected, or something that stands out from the ordinary. It can also suggest something foreign or external.

・On-yomi (音読み): イ (i) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): こと (koto)

⚫︎ 異文化 (ibunka) Translation: Different culture, foreign culture. ⚫︎ 異常 (ijō) Translation: Unusual; abnormality. ⚫︎ 異議 (igi) Translation: Objection; dissent.

The kanji 異 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound character. The left side is 田 (ta), meaning "field" or "rice paddy," and the upper component of the right side is 畀, which, according to some interpretations, is a pictograph of a person. The lower component of the right side is 廾 (kyō), depicting both hands. The original meaning could have been about a group of people in a different field. The right side provides the sound イ (i). Over time, the character evolved to represent "different" or "unusual" in this context.