もちろん違います
mochiron chigaimasu
In Japanese, "of course not" is expressed as もちろん違います (mochiron chigaimasu).
A phrase used to give a strong negative answer to a question.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mochiron (of course) and chigaimasu (is different/is wrong).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal settings, you might use もちろんそんなことはございません to mean "Of course not" or いえ、決してそうではございません to mean "No, absolutely not". Another formal option is そのようなことはございません, which means "There is no such thing". In informal settings, you can use もちろんそんなことないよ or ううん、そんなことない to mean "Of course not" or "No, that's not the case". The version もちろん違う is also an informal way to say "of course not" used with friends or subordinates.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the polite masu form of the verb chigau to provide a polite but firm negative response.
How do you pronounce it?
mochiron chigaimasu
Did you know?
- In casual speech, the phrase そんなことない (sonna koto nai) is frequently used to say 'of course not' when responding to a compliment. It functions as a way to humbly deny the praise.
- In highly formal business settings, using もちろん can actually sound slightly too blunt or assertive. It is often safer to use a more indirect negation to maintain social harmony.
- When using the very formal version そのようなことはございません, you are essentially saying 'such a thing does not exist'. This shifts the focus from the person being wrong to the non-existence of the topic itself.
Examples in context
- もちろん違います。Mochiron chigaimasu.Of course not.
- それはもちろん違います。Sore wa mochiron chigaimasu.That is of course not (correct/true).
Example conversation
Daito and Himari are talking about a misunderstanding.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕が全部やったと思った？Boku ga zenbu yatta to omotta?Did you think I did everything?
- 陽葵 Himariええ、そう思いました。Ee, sou omoimashita.Yes, I thought so.
- 大翔 Hirotoもちろん違います。みんなでやりました。Mochiron chigaimasu. Minna de yarimashita.Of course not. Everyone did it together.
- 陽葵 Himariそうだったんですね。Sou datta n desu ne.I see, that was the case.
