Posted inN1 Grammar

Mastering ～に相違ない: Expressing Strong Certainty at JLPT N1 Level

Posted inN1 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“Without doubt,” “certainly,” “must be.”

🎯 Primary Function

To express a very strong conviction or conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. It conveys a high degree of certainty about something being true.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + に相違ない Verb (plain form) + に相違ない い-adjective (plain form) + に相違ない な-adjective (stem) + に相違ない

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Widely used in formal speeches, presentations, academic papers, legal documents, and reports to state conclusions with high confidence.

😊 Informal Situations

Rarely used. Sounds very stiff and unnatural in casual conversation.

✍️ Written Language

Commonly encountered in formal writing across various genres (news articles, essays, official documents).

🗣️ Spoken Language

Primarily used in formal or official spoken contexts, such as lectures, press conferences, or formal debates. Avoided in everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Drawing conclusions from evidence
Used when presenting a logical conclusion drawn from observable facts or information.
Example: 目撃証言と状況証拠から判断すると、犯人は彼に相違ない。 (Mokugeki shougen to joukyou shouko kara handan suru to, hannin wa kare ni soui nai.) – Judging from the eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence, the culprit must certainly be him.
Making strong assertions
Used to emphatically state that something is definitely true.
Example: 長年の努力が実を結んだ結果に相違ない。 (Chounen no doryoku ga mi wo musunda kekka ni soui nai.) – This must certainly be the result of many years of effort.
📊
Frequency
Relatively frequent in formal written and spoken Japanese, but infrequent in informal, everyday conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N1
Example Sentences
この署名、本人のものに相違ありません。
This signature must certainly be the person’s own.
彼の沈黙は、事実を認めているに相違ない。
His silence must mean he is admitting the facts.
この難しい問題に一人で取り組むのは困難に相違ない。
It is certainly difficult to tackle this difficult problem alone.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Formality
This pattern is highly formal and should be used primarily in formal contexts.
Example: Casual: きっと彼だよ。(Kitto kare da yo.) vs. Formal: 彼に相違ない。(Kare ni soui nai.)
Strength of Conviction
It expresses a higher degree of certainty than ～はずだ or ～だろう, closer to ～に違いない but more formal.
Example: 彼の言うことは真実に相違ない。(Kare no iu koto wa shinjitsu ni soui nai.) – What he says must certainly be the truth.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it in casual conversation.
✅ Use ～に違いない, ～はずだ, or simpler expressions like きっと～だ/でしょう.
～に相違ない sounds unnatural and overly formal in everyday chat.
❌ Incorrect conjugation, especially with な-adjectives.
✅ Attach directly to the な-adjective stem.
Do not add な or だ before に相違ない with な-adjectives.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: High. It is a very formal and sometimes authoritative expression.
Social Situations: Appropriate for formal reports, academic discussions, legal contexts, or strong, objective assertions. Inappropriate for social chatting with friends or family.
Regional Variations: This pattern is standard Japanese and does not have significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

～に相違ない vs. ～に違いない
Both express high certainty. ～に相違ない is more formal and often used in written language or formal speech. ～に違いない is also strong but can be used in slightly less formal (though still not truly casual) spoken language.
When to use: Use ～に相違ない in formal reports, academic papers, or official statements. Use ～に違いない when expressing strong personal conviction, suitable for slightly less formal but still assertive contexts.
～に相違ない vs. ～はずだ
～に相違ない indicates certainty based on strong evidence or logical conclusion. ～はずだ indicates expectation or strong probability based on prior knowledge or general rules.
When to use: Use ～に相違ない when making a definitive conclusion from presented facts. Use ～はずだ when saying something is likely based on what you expect to happen or what should be the case.

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects directly after Nouns, plain form of Verbs, plain form of い-adjectives, and stem of な-adjectives.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 相違 (そうい) meaning “difference.” 相違ない (そういない) means “no difference” or “no room for doubt.”

Practice Exercises
次の文の( )に入れるのに最も適切なものを選びなさい。 状況から考えて、彼の話は( )に相違ない。
うそ
真実
趣味
疑問
「この報告書には重要な情報が含まれているに相違ない」の最も適切な状況はどれですか？
友達とのメッセージ
ビジネスプレゼンテーション
家族との夕食
個人的な日記
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