As far as I know, both of these have a similar meaning. Are both
interchangeable? In what situations would 変 be preferable over おかしい?
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2017-12-04T06:07:42.823
54935
2017-12-08T03:21:36.990
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question
word-choice nuances
Are 変 and おかしい interchangable?
They are not as interchangeable as you might expect. I recommend sticking to 変
when you are going to express general "weirdness". 変 is somewhat broader to
mean "inappropriately unusual", while おかしい is when the strangeness reminds of
dysfunction of some sort.

> この式は **変だ**  
>  この式は **おかしい**  
>  _This formula is..._

Even when you can use both, 変 here means giving impression of strangeness or
counterintuitivity, but doesn't (necessarily) imply logically wrong
(=dysfunctional), while おかしい does.

> ○ **変** なことするな  
>  × **おかしい** ことするな  
>  "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

In this case, what they advice against to do probably has some bad effect, but
not necessarily out of insanity (maybe they just intend to do), thus おかしい is
not likely used.
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2017-12-08T03:21:36.990
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2017-12-08T03:21:36.990
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answer