Use 違う to describe differences and point out an incorrect answer.
The idea
違う is an intransitive godan verb. Mark the thing being compared with と: A は B と違います. によって can express variation depending on a condition.
| Dictionary form | Polite non-past | Polite negative | Polite past | て form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 違う | 違います | 違いません | 違いました | 違って |
Examples
- この色はあの色と違います。This color is different from that one.
- 私の意見はあなたの意見と違います。My opinion differs from yours.
- 店によって値段が違います。Prices differ depending on the shop.
- 昨日の天気は今日と違いました。Yesterday’s weather was different from today’s.
- この答えは違います。もう一度考えます。This answer is wrong. I will think again.
- 二人の考えはあまり違いません。Their ideas are not very different.
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Watch out
違います can mean “that is wrong” as well as “it differs”; context decides. Its て form is 違って, not 違いて.
Try it yourself
色は写真＿違います。（と／を）
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と
と marks the other thing in the comparison: the color differs from the photo.
昨日は今日と＿。（違います→過去）
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違いました
違いました is the polite past of 違う, used here for yesterday.
二人の意見はあまり＿。（違います→否定）
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違いません
違いません is the polite negative; あまり with a negative means “not very much”.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
色は写真＿違います。（と／を）
昨日は今日と＿。（違います→過去）
二人の意見はあまり＿。（違います→否定）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Compare two things with と, then describe a past difference using 違いました.