Meaning and Usage
"違う" (ちがう) is a common Japanese verb meaning "to be different" or "to be wrong." It is used to indicate that something does not match or is not correct compared to another thing.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "違う" when comparing opinions, answers, or facts. It can express a simple difference or a mistake.
Collocations and Patterns
- 違うと思う (ちがうとおもう): "I think it's different/wrong" – used to politely express disagreement.
- 答えが違う (こたえがちがう): "The answer is wrong/different" – common in educational contexts.
- 違う人 (ちがうひと): "a different person" – to distinguish between people.
Register and Politeness
"違う" is neutral and can be used in casual and polite speech. The polite form is "違います" (ちがいます).
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "違う" with "間違う" (まちがう), which also means "to be wrong." "違う" emphasizes difference or being incorrect, while "間違う" focuses more on making a mistake or error. Use "違う" when pointing out differences or incorrectness in a general sense.