Recognise 違 in complete Japanese words. These examples show differences and mistakes in context.

The idea

違 has 13 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Compare 違う（ちがう） with 間違える（まちがえる）: learn readings with whole words. N3 is an editorial estimate, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
違うちがうThe two answers are different.
間違えるまちがえるI took the wrong road.
違いちがいCan you tell the difference between the colours?
間違えないまちがえないPlease do not get the name wrong.

Examples

  • 二ふたつの答こたえは違ちがいます。The two answers are different.
  • 道みちを間違まちがえました。I took the wrong road.
  • 色いろの違ちがいが分わかりますか。Can you tell the difference between the colours?
  • 私わたしの答こたえはあなたの答こたえと違ちがいます。My answer differs from yours.
  • 番号ばんごうが少すこし違ちがいます。The number is slightly different.
  • 名前なまえを間違まちがえないでください。Please do not get the name wrong.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

違う（ちがう） says that things differ; it does not always mean that one is wrong. 間違える（まちがえる） means to make a mistake, as in taking the wrong road. Compare 違 with 達: a shared component does not make them interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 違う in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    ちがう

    違う is read ちがう. In context: The two answers are different.

  2. Write the reading of 間違える in hiragana.

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    まちがえる

    間違える is read まちがえる. In context: I took the wrong road.

  3. Write this lesson’s kanji in the blank: ＿う（ちがう）.

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    違

    違 completes 違う, read ちがう. In context: The two answers are different.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 違 from memory, and read 違う and 間違える aloud. Then check the examples and make a sentence of your own.