何が違うの？
nani ga chigau no?
The English phrase "what is the difference?" is translated into Japanese as 何が違うの？ (nani ga chigau no?)
You use this phrase when you notice a distinction between two or more things and want to know the specific point where they diverge.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 何 (what), が (subject marker), 違う (to differ/be different) and の (a particle used for questioning or explanation).
Which one should you use?
While the default form 何が違うの？ asks "What is different?", other variations change the nuance: どう違うの？ asks "How are they different?", 違いって何？ asks "What's the difference?" and どのような違いがありますか？ asks "What kind of difference is there?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form 何が違うの？ is casual. To be polite in formal settings, use 何が違いますか？ If you want to add a nuance of seeking an explanation or clarification for a perceived discrepancy, you can use the form 何が違うんですか？
How do you pronounce it?
nani ga chigau no?
Did you know?
- While 何が違うの？ asks for a difference, Japanese speakers often phrase this concept using 同じ ('the same') to inquire how things are not identical.
- The word 違う (chigau) serves as a useful social tool for politeness. By saying 違います (chigaimasu) instead of a direct 'no', a speaker can reject a statement or correct someone without being uncomfortably blunt.
- Depending on the speaker's tone, 何が違うの？ can shift from a curious question to an accusation that someone is lying.
Examples in context
- これとあれ、何が違うの？Kore to are, nani ga chigau no?What is the difference between this and that?
- 昨日と今日で、何が違うの？Kinou to kyou de, nani ga chigau no?What is the difference between yesterday and today?
- 二つのプラン、何が違うの？Futatsu no puran, nani ga chigau no?What is the difference between the two plans?
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are looking at two different smartphone models in a store.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの二つのモデル、何が違うの？Kono futatsu no moderu, nani ga chigau no?What is the difference between these two models?
- 陽葵 Himariカメラの性能が違うよ。Kamera no seinou ga chigau yo.The camera performance is different.
- 大翔 Hiroto価格も違うのかな？Kakaku mo chigau no kana?I wonder if the price is different too?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、少し高いよ。Un, sukoshi takai yo.Yeah, it's a little more expensive.
