Idiom

イディオム | 違う(ちがう)

Idiom

The Japanese word “chigau” has two meanings: “different” and “wrong.” It can also mean that there is a big difference between superior and inferior, as in, “You and he have different abilities,” or when you strongly disagree with someone’s opinion, “That’s not true! That is xx!” It’s hard to say “wrong,” but easy to say “different.” Please enjoy the nuances of “chigai” that express the complex and profound Japanese culture that respects harmony. 1. That it is not the same as that. It’s not the same thing, and the circumstances are different from what you are used to. e.g. Ramen in Japan and China are different foods. I have a lot of trouble doing work in a different field. The way of working is different between Japan and America. If you use hatcho miso, it tastes different flavor. 2. Not matching the correct one e.g. The answer to this question is different. 3. Wrong e.g. I slept wrong and my neck hurts. I was in a hurry, so I buttoned up the wrong button. 4. The Meaning of Intersection e.g. Mr. A and I passed each other this morning. Formal Expression A: Hello, this is A. B: Yes, this is B. Otsukaresama desu (Thank you for your time). A: In the document you sent me via email, the figures seem to be different from the ones you showed me before. This is not what we decided at the meeting. Are you sure you are not using the wrong data? Please check the data again before submitting it to the other party. B: I’m sorry. I will check again and recreate the document immediately. A: It’s a little different than usual, but let’s do our best. Casual Expression A: Oh, hi, it’s A. B: Oh, otsukare. A: The document you sent me via email seems to have different figures from the one you showed me the other day. It’s not what we agreed on in the meeting. I think you’re using the wrong data. Please check it again before you send it over there. B: Sorry. I’ll check it again and recreate the document right away. A: It’s a little different than usual, but let’s do our best.

日本語にほんご
nihonngo no
The Japanese word
ちがう」には
chigau niha
“chigau”
different
different
“different”
to
and
wrongの
wrong no
“wrong”
意味いみ
imi ga
two meanings:
あります。
arimasu.
has
また、
mata,
also
上下じょうげ優劣ゆうれつ
jyouge ya yuuretsu ni
superior and inferior
おおきながある
ookina sa ga aru
there is a big difference between
という意味合いみあいで
toiu imiai de
as in
「あなたとかれでは
anata to kare deha
“You and he
実力じつりょく
jitsuryoku ga
abilities,”
ちがう」
chigau
have different
などとったり、
nado to ittari,
or
相手あいて意見いけん
aite no ikenn wo
someone’s opinion
つよ否定ひていする
tsuyoku hitei suru
you strongly disagree with
ときに
toki ni
when
「それはちがう!
soreha chigau!
“That’s not true!
○○だよ!」
maru maru dayo!
That is xx!”
のように使つかったりもします。
no you ni tsukattari mo shimasu.
It can mean that
あやまり」とは
ayamari toha
“wrong”
いにくく
iinikuku
It’s hard to say
ても
temo
but
ちがう」なら
chigau nara
“different”
いやすいのです。
iiyasui no desu.
easy to say
とうと
wa wo toutobu
that respects harmony
複雑ふくざつ
fukuzatsu de
the complex and
奥深おくぶか
okubukai
profound
日本文化にほんぶんか
nihonnbunnka wo
Japanese culture
あらわすような
arawasu you na
that express
ニュアンスにゅあんすの「ちがい」を
nyuannsu no chigai wo
the nuances of “chigai”
たのしみください。
oatnoshimi kudasai.
Please enjoy
それとはおなじではないこと、れたやりかた事情じじょうことなること
sore toha onaji deha nai koto, nareta yarikata to jijyou ga kotonaru koto
That it is not the same as that. It’s not the same thing, and the circumstances are different from what you are used to.
日本にほん中国ちゅうごくラーメンらーめんちがものだ。
nihonn to chuugoku no ra-menn ha chigau tabemono da.
e.g. Ramen in Japan and China are different foods.
畑違はたけちがいの仕事しごと苦労くろうおおい。
hatakechigai no shigoto de kurou ga ooi.
I have a lot of trouble doing work in a different field.
仕事しごとをするにも、日本にほんアメリカあめりかでは勝手かってちがう。
shigoto wo suru nimo, nihonn to amerika deha katte ga chigau.
The way of working is different between Japan and America.
はっちょう味噌みそ使つかうと、ひとあじちがった美味おいしさだ。
hacchou miso wo tsukau to, hitoaji chigatta oishisa da.
If you use hatcho miso, it tastes different flavor.
ただしいものと一致いっちしないこと
tadashii mono to icchi shinai koto
Not matching the correct one
この問題もんだいこたえはちがう。
kono monndai no kotae ha chigau.
e.g. The answer to this question is different.
ちがえる
chigaeru
Wrong
寝違ねちがえてくびいたい。
nechigaete kubu ga itai.
e.g. I slept wrong and my neck hurts.
いそいでいたので、ボタンぼたんちがえました。
isoide ita node, botann wo kakechigae mashita.
I was in a hurry, so I buttoned up the wrong button.
交差こうさする意味いみ
kousa suru imi
The Meaning of Intersection
Aさんとは、今朝けさろうかですれちがいました。
e-sann toha, kesa rouka de surechigai mashita.
e.g. Mr. A and I passed each other this morning.
フォーマルふぉーまるかた
fo-maru na iikata
Formal Expression
A:もしもし、Aです。
A: moshimoshi, e- desu.
A: Hello, this is A.
B: はい、Bです。
B: hai, bi- desu.
B: Yes, this is B.
おつかれさまです。
otsukaresama desu.
Otsukaresama desu (Thank you for your time).
A:メールめーるおくってくださった資料しりょうですが、以前いぜんせていただいたものと数値すうちちがっているようです。
A: me-ru de okutte kudasatta shiryou desu ga, izenn misete itadaita mono to suuchi ga chigatteiru you desu.
A: In the document you sent me via email, the figures seem to be different from the ones you showed me before.
これでは、会議かいぎ決定けっていした内容ないようはなしちがってしまいます。
koredeha, kaigi de kettei shita naiyou to hanashi ga chigatte shimai masu.
This is not what we decided at the meeting.
ちがったデータでーた使用しようしていませんか?
chigatta de-ta wo shiyou shite imasenn ka?
Are you sure you are not using the wrong data?
先方せんぽう提出ていしゅつするまえに、もう一度いちど確認かくにんをおねがいします。
sennpou he teishutsu suru mae ni, mouichido gokakuninn wo onegai shimasu.
Please check the data again before submitting it to the other party.
B:もうわけありません。
B: moushiwake arimasenn.
B: I’m sorry.
再度さいど確認かくにんし、すぐ資料しりょうつくなおします。
saido kakuninn shi, sugu shiryou wo tsukuri naoshi masu.
I will check again and recreate the document immediately.
A:普段ふだん勝手かってちがいますが、がんばりましょう。
A: fudann to katte ga chigaimasu ga, gannbari mashou.
A: It’s a little different than usual, but let’s do our best.
カジュアルかじゅあるかた
kajyuaru na iikata
Casual Expression
A:あ、もしもし、Aだけど。
A: a, moshimoshi, e- dakedo.
A: Oh, hi, it’s A.
B:ああ、おつかれ。
B: aa, otsukare.
B: Oh, otsukare.
A:メールめーるおくってくれた資料しりょうだけど、このまえせてくれたものと数値すうちちがうみたい。
A: me-ru de okutte kureta siryou dakedo, konomae misete kureta mono to suuchi ga chigau mitai.
A: The document you sent me via email seems to have different figures from the one you showed me the other day.
これじゃあ、会議かいぎまった内容ないようはなしちがっちゃうよ。
korejyaa, kaigi de kimatta naiyou to hanashi ga chigacchau yo.
It’s not what we agreed on in the meeting.
ちがったデータでーた使つかってるんじゃない?
chigatta de-ta wo tsukatteru nnjyanai?
I think you’re using the wrong data.
あちらにまえに、もう一度いちど確認かくにんしてね。
achira ni dasu mae ni, mouichido kakuninn shite ne.
Please check it again before you send it over there.
B:ごめん。もう一度いちど確認かくにんして、すぐ資料しりょうつくなおすよ。
B: gomenn. mou ichido kakuninn shite, sugu shiryou wo tsukuri naosu yo.
B: Sorry. I’ll check it again and recreate the document right away.
A:いつもと勝手かってちがうけど、がんばろう。
A: itsumo to katte ga chigaukedo, gannbarou.
A: It’s a little different than usual, but let’s do our best.

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