Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI am different | ||
| NegativeI am not different |
JAPANESE VERB
ちがう
違う
to be different, to be wrong
- #101 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI was different | ||
| NegativeI was not different |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formbeing different, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am being different | ||
| Please (て ください)please be different |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can be different | ||
| NegativeI can’t be different |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to be different | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to be different |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s be different |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I am different
- If, when (たら) if I am different
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) be different (do it)
- Plain command be different!
- Please don’t please don’t be different
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | ||
| Causative |
How to use ちがう
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
にほん の せいかつ は カナダ と ぜんぜん ちがいます。
Life in Japan is completely different from Canada.
-
Past
あの ひと だ と おもった けど、 ちがった。
I thought it was him, but it wasn't.
-
Te-form
じゅうしょ が ちがって いて、 にもつ が とどかなかった。
The address was wrong, so the parcel didn't arrive.
-
Potential
ふたり の いけん は ちがって も、 はなしあえます。
Even if our opinions differ, we can talk it through.
-
Want to
ひと と ちがう こと を したい。
I want to do something different from everyone else.
-
Volitional
こたえ が ちがう なら、 もう いちど かんがえよう。
If the answer is wrong, let's think again.
-
Conditional
ことば が ちがえば、 かんがえかた も ちがう。
If the language is different, the way of thinking is too.
-
Commands and requests
ひと と ちがって も、 き に しないで。
Even if you're different from others, don't worry about it.
-
Passive and causative
ちがう ひと と まちがえられて、 こまった。
I was mistaken for someone else, and it was awkward.
Good to know
- ちがいます is the polite "no, that's not right"; between friends it is ちがう よ.
- と ちがう is different from: きょねん と ちがう.
- Being different isn't something you do, so where a form isn't used, the sentence shows ちがう beside another verb.
Where you hear ちがう
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- しごと の とき の けんた は ちがう。 Kenta is different at work.
- とうきょう は おもって いた の と ちがった。 Tokyo was different from what I'd thought.
- あした の よてい は きょう と ちがう よ。 Tomorrow's plan will be different from today's.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).