多分違う
tabun chigau
The English phrase "maybe not" can be translated into Japanese as 多分違う (tabun chigau).
多分違う is used to express that something is probably not true or incorrect. While the English phrase "maybe not" can be quite broad, this Japanese expression specifically implies that something is different from the truth or is wrong.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of tabun (maybe/probably) and chigau (to be different/wrong).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 多分違う is casual and should be used with friends or people of lower social status. For use with strangers or superiors, you should use the polite form 多分違います.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding masu to the end of chigau makes the phrase polite for use with strangers or superiors.
How do you pronounce it?
tabun chigau
Did you know?
- The word 違う is used in a common gesture where a person crosses their arms or fingers in an 'X' shape to visually signal that something is 'wrong' or 'not allowed' while saying the word.
- In many social situations, a Japanese speaker might avoid saying tabun chigau entirely to save 'face'. Instead, they might use a vague phrase like chotto… (a bit…) and trail off to imply disagreement without being direct.
- If you want to be extremely soft, you can add kamoshirenai to the end. Using tabun chigau kamoshirenai adds another layer of 'maybe' to make the denial even less aggressive.
Examples in context
- その答えは多分違う。Sono kotae wa tabun chigau.That answer is probably wrong.
- 彼の考えは多分違うと思う。Kare no kangae wa tabun chigau to omou.I think his idea is probably incorrect.
- 計算の結果は多分違うよ。Keisan no kekka wa tabun chigau yo.The calculation result is probably not right.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are checking a map together.
- 美咲 Misakiこの道で合っているかな？Kono michi de atte iru kana?I wonder if this is the right road?
- 蓮 Ren多分違うと思うよ。Tabun chigau to omou yo.I think it's probably not.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に？どこが違うのかな？Hontou ni? Doko ga chigau no kana?Really? I wonder where it's wrong?
- 蓮 Ren地図をもう一度見てみよう。Chizu o mou ichido mite miyou.Let's look at the map one more time.
