difference

Compared meaning: a disagreement or argument between people (noun).

比较义项：人与人之间的分歧、争执（名词）。

• difference 本词

  The mildest of the three; describes a disagreement in opinion or attitude between people, usually minor and easily resolved, and rarely implies a heated argument or formal process.

  三者中语气最温和，指人与人之间在意见或态度上的分歧，通常比较轻微，容易化解，几乎不涉及激烈的争吵或正式的处理程序。

  Despite their differences, the two friends remained close for many years.

  尽管两人之间存在分歧，这两位朋友多年来依然保持着亲密的关系。

• conflict

  A stronger, more serious disagreement or clash that implies real opposition of interests, values or goals; can involve people, groups, ideas or events, and usually feels more intense or lasting.

  语气更强烈、更严重，指真正涉及利益、价值观或目标对立的分歧或冲突；既可发生在人与人之间，也可发生在团体、观念或事件之间，通常持续时间更长、程度也更激烈。

  The new manager had a conflict of interest in the hiring decision.

  这位新经理在招聘决定上存在利益冲突。

• dispute

  A disagreement or argument over one specific fact, claim or issue, often carried out through formal channels such as law, business or labor negotiations, and later settled or resolved.

  指针对某一具体事实、主张或问题的分歧或争论，常通过法律、商业或劳资谈判等正式途径处理，最终得到解决或化解。

  The two companies settled their long-running dispute over the contract terms.

  两家公司就合同条款的长期争执达成了和解。

All three mean a disagreement between people. Difference is mildest, a small disagreement in opinion. Conflict is strongest, a real clash of interests. Dispute is a formal argument about one issue. Not compared: difference's 'amount' sense, dispute's verb sense 'to question'.

这三个词都可表示人与人之间的分歧或争执，但语气强弱与使用场合不同：difference最温和，多指意见上的小分歧；conflict最严重，强调利益或立场的真正对立；dispute则强调针对某一具体问题的正式争论。这里不比较difference表示「数量或性质差异」的常见义项，也不比较dispute作动词表示「对某事的真实性提出质疑」的义项。