違う

From Old Japanese. Compound of 道 (chi, “road, way”) +‎ 交う (kau, “cross, exchange”).^[1] The kau changes to gau as an instance of rendaku (連濁).^[2]

First cited to the Kagerō Nikki of 974,^[1] and likely extant earlier given the initial citing in 965 of derived form 違える (chigaeru, “to keep something from happening”)^[1]

Similar, but not related, to tagau reading.^[2]

• 異う

• (Tokyo) ちがう (Heiban – )^[3]
• (Tokyo) ちがう (Nakadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

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

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

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

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

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).^[2]

First cited to the Kojiki of 712 CE.^[4]

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

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

• 従(したが)う (shitagau, “obey”)