<p>This is called 异体字 and I don't know this concept in English. In the old days, there are often multiple characters for a single 字, if you know some japanese kanji, you would even find more 异体字, some even different from those in China.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-28T16:40:40.907Z
Corresponding English concept should be [spellings](https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/differences-in-british-and-american-spelling/), e.g. favor v.s. favour, analyse v.s. analyze, and travelled v.s. traveled. The connection to kanji is fantastic!
Limina102
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-02T08:56:21.937Z
Right! It is indeed an analogy!
ramhuw
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-28T02:09:28.080Z
2021-05-28T02:09:28.080Z
ramhuw
<p>Why are some characters preferred in some areas more than others? I am referring to 綫 vs 線 in Hong Kong. They mean the same thing right?</p>
<p>I was also reading some articles related to the Dragon Boat Festival, why is 粽 preferred, but I also see the character 糭 in some (but really rare occasions).</p>
<p>Would you have other examples?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T15:26:57.817Z
Does this answer your question? [Traditional 綫 vs. 線?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/38766/traditional-%e7%b6%ab-vs-%e7%b7%9a)
L Parker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T18:44:05.167Z
No. They are not the same, 綫 means boundary line as 前綫, 界綫, whereas 線 is the tangible thread, string line, 縫衣線, 毛線, 情牽一線. Your question is too broad, as there are regional differences, as well as differences between traditional and simplified Chinese.
r13
<character-variant>
Why are some characters more preferred in some areas?
# Why are some characters more preferred in some areas?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-23)

Why are some characters preferred in some areas more than others? I am referring to 綫 vs 線 in Hong Kong. They mean the same thing right?

I was also reading some articles related to the Dragon Boat Festival, why is 粽 preferred, but I also see the character 糭 in some (but really rare occasions).

Would you have other examples?

**Tags:** character-variant

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Traditional 綫 vs. 線?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/38766/traditional-%e7%b6%ab-vs-%e7%b7%9a)  
> **username_2**: No. They are not the same, 綫 means boundary line as 前綫, 界綫, whereas 線 is the tangible thread, string line, 縫衣線, 毛線, 情牽一線. Your question is too broad, as there are regional differences, as well as differences between traditional and simplified Chinese.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-28. Score: 1

This is called 异体字 and I don't know this concept in English. In the old days, there are often multiple characters for a single 字, if you know some japanese kanji, you would even find more 异体字, some even different from those in China.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Corresponding English concept should be [spellings](https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/differences-in-british-and-american-spelling/), e.g. favor v.s. favour, analyse v.s. analyze, and travelled v.s. traveled. The connection to kanji is fantastic!  
> **username_3**: Right! It is indeed an analogy!  

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