二つのものは違う
futatsu no mono wa chigau
In Japanese, the phrase "two things are different" is expressed as 二つのものは違う (futatsu no mono wa chigau).
The phrase is used to state that two objects or ideas are not the same. The core verb, chigau, is used both to express a difference between two things and to state that something is incorrect or wrong.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context and desired level of politeness, you may use different forms. The informal form is 違う, while the polite form is 違います. For a more formal or specific nuance, you can use 相違します to mean "to differ or to vary," or 異なります when emphasizing contrasting aspects or a greater degree of difference.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ちがった is the past tense of 違う.
How do you pronounce it?
futatsu no mono wa chigau
Did you know?
- In daily conversation, Japanese speakers often use 違う as a polite way to say 'no' when correcting someone, rather than saying いいえ. Using 違う softens the contradiction by framing it as a difference in perception.
- In Japanese culture, stating 違う too bluntly can be perceived as confrontational. To avoid this, people often add a trailing …ね or use a questioning tone to make the statement of difference feel less like a direct attack.
- In Japanese, the verb 違う can be used to mean 'to deviate' from a path or a standard, which is why it is often applied to social norms or expected behaviors that have been broken.
Examples in context
- 彼らの意見は違います。Their opinions are different.
- 法律によって州ごとの規定が相違します。Laws differ from state to state.
- その二つの商品は品質が異なります。Those two products have different qualities.
- 彼と私は趣味が違う。He and I have different hobbies.
- この二つのものは違うと思います。Kono futatsu no mono wa chigau to omoimasu.I think these two things are different.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are comparing two similar-looking pens.
- 陽太 Yotaこのペンは同じものだよね？Kono pen wa onaji mono da yo ne?These pens are the same, right?
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、二つのものは違うよ。Iie, futatsu no mono wa chigau yo.No, the two things are different.
- 陽太 Yotaえっ、どこが違うの？E, doko ga chigau no?Eh, what's different about them?
- 美咲 Misakiインクの色が違うよ。Inku no iro ga chigau yo.The ink colors are different.
