Readings: イ (Onyomi), ちが.う, ちが.える, ちが.い (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Different, violate, contrary
形声文字 (Keisei moji). The left part 辶 (movement) and the right part 韋 (wei – surrounding, going around, also indicates sound). Together, it suggests moving in a way that is “off” or “different.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 違 has 13 strokes. It starts with the radical 辶 (shinnyou) followed by the character 韋. Pay attention to the order and flow for each part, especially the 辶 radical which is written last.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 辶 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 13 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- イ (I)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ちがう (chiga.u)
- ちがえる (chiga.eru)
Common Words Using 違
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 違反 | いはん | violation, offense |
| 違法 | いほう | illegal |
| 相違 | そうい | difference, discrepancy |
| 違和感 | いわかん | a feeling of discomfort, something is off |
| 違反者 | いはんしゃ | offender, violator |
| 違約 | いやく | breach of contract |
| 違憲 | いけん | unconstitutional |
| 違背 | いはい | violation, transgression |
| 違犯 | いはん | violation, breach (less common than 違反 but same meaning) |
| 違式 | いしき | violation of rules/forms (less common) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 違う | ちがう | to differ, to be wrong |
| 間違い | まちがい | mistake, error |
| 違い | ちがい | difference |
| 食い違い | くいちがい | discrepancy, cross-purpose |
| 行き違い | いきちがい | going astray, misunderstanding |
| すれ違う | すれちがう | to pass by each other, to brush past |
| 思い違い | おもいちがい | misunderstanding, mistaken idea |
| 違える | ちがえる | to make a mistake, to violate |
| 間違いなく | まちがいなく | undoubtedly, without fail |
| 人違い | ひとちがい | mistaken identity |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この意見は私と違います。
Kana: このいけんはわたしとちがいます。
Romaji: Kono iken wa watashi to chigaimasu.
English: This opinion is different from mine.
Japanese: 信号無視は交通違反です。
Kana: しんごうむしはこうつういはんです。
Romaji: Shingō mushi wa kōtsū ihan desu.
English: Running a red light is a traffic violation.
Japanese: 計算を間違えました。
Kana: けいさんをまちがえました。
Romaji: Keisan o machigaemashita.
English: I made a mistake in the calculation.
Japanese: その話は事実と違う。
Kana: そのはなしはじじつとちがう。
Romaji: Sono hanashi wa jijitsu to chigau.
English: That story is different from the truth.
Japanese: 彼は約束を違えた。
Kana: かれはやくそくをたがえた。
Romaji: Kare wa yakusoku o tagaeta.
English: He broke his promise.
Japanese: 何か違和感を感じます。
Kana: なにかいわかんをかんじます。
Romaji: Nanika iwakan o kanjimasu.
English: I feel something is off/a sense of discomfort.
Japanese: 二つの意見には大きな違いがある。
Kana: ふたつのいけんにはおおきなちがいがある。
Romaji: Futatsu no iken ni wa ōkina chigai ga aru.
English: There is a big difference between the two opinions.
Japanese: それは私の知っている話と違う。
Kana: それはわたしのしっているはなしとちがう。
Romaji: Sore wa watashi no shitteiru hanashi to chigau.
English: That’s different from the story I know.
Japanese: この書類は法に違反している。
Kana: このしょるいはほうにいはんしている。
Romaji: Kono shorui wa hō ni ihan shiteiru.
English: This document violates the law.
Japanese: 場所を間違えてしまいました。
Kana: ばしょをまちがえてしまいました。
Romaji: Basho o machigaete shimaimashita.
English: I went to the wrong place.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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