違(ちが)い

ちがい

noun

difference

1. difference, discrepancy

The state of being different or not the same. The noun form of the verb 違(ちが)う (to differ). Used to describe gaps or distinctions between things.

二(ふた)つの製品(せいひん)の違(ちが)いがわからない。

I can't tell the difference between the two products.

文化(ぶんか)の違(ちが)いを理解(りかい)することが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It's important to understand cultural differences.

考(かんが)え方(かた)の違(ちが)いで意見(いけん)が合(あ)わなかった。

We couldn't agree due to differences in our ways of thinking.

Usage: This is the noun form derived from the verb 違(ちが)う. It emphasizes the state or degree of being different.

Common patterns

〜の違(ちが)い (the difference in/of ~)
違(ちが)いがある (there is a difference)
違(ちが)いがわかる (to understand the difference)
大(おお)きな違(ちが)い (big difference)
個人(こじん)差(さ)/違(ちが)い (individual differences)

Similar words

差(さ) - emphasizes the gap or margin between things (often numerical)
相違(そうい) - formal word for difference/discrepancy
区別(くべつ) - distinction, differentiation (the act of distinguishing)

Related Words

Related: 違(ちが)う (verb form)

Related: 差(さ) (gap, margin)

Compare: 相違(そうい) (formal word for difference/discrepancy)

Compare: 区別(くべつ) (distinction, differentiation)

Compare: 相違点(そういてん) (point of difference)

Compare: 差分(さぶん) (difference)

general

Added 2026.1.12 18:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

03000/03432_chigai