違う

Japanese

Etymology 1

From Old Japanese. Compound of 道 (chi, “road, way”) +‎ 交う (kau, “cross, exchange”). The kau changes to gau as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

First cited to the Kagerō Nikki of 974, and likely extant earlier given the initial citing in 965 of derived form 違える (chigaeru, “to keep something from happening”)

Similar, but not related, to tagau reading.

Alternative forms

• 異う

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ちがう (Heiban – )
• (Tokyo) ちが​う (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Verb

違(ちが)う • (chigau) ^{←ちがふ (tigafu)?}intransitive godan (stem 違(ちが)い (chigai), past 違(ちが)った (chigatta))

1. to be different; to differ (from something)
2. another
3. (in conversation) no, that is wrong / incorrect; that's not how it is

Usage notes

This is used to disagree with someone in conversation like "no", but it is softer than saying "no" in English.

Conjugation

Synonyms

• 異(こと)なる (kotonaru): to differ
• 別(べつ) (betsu): another

Derived terms

• 違(ちが)い (chigai)
• 間(ま)違(ちが)う (machigau): make a mistake
• 勘違(かんちが)い (kanchigai): misunderstanding

Etymology 2

From Old Japanese. Compound of 手 (ta, “hand”, bound form) +‎ 交う (kau, “cross, exchange”). The kau changes to gau as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

First cited to the Kojiki of 712 CE.

Verb

違(たが)う • (tagau) ^{←たがふ (tagafu)?}intransitive godan (stem 違(たが)い (tagai), past 違(たが)った (tagatta))

1. (dated) be contrary to; go against; defy; disobey; violate (a rule)

   期(き)待(たい)に違(たが)う

   kitai ni tagau

   be contrary to an anticipation

   定(てい)説(せつ)に違(たが)う

   teisetsu ni tagau

   defy a common theory

   規(き)則(そく)に違(たが)う

   kisoku ni tagau

   violate a rule

Conjugation

Synonyms

• 逆(さか)らう (sakarau)
• 背(そむ)く (somuku)
• 反(はん)する (hansuru)

Antonyms

• 従(したが)う (shitagau, “obey”)

References