How to say "differ" in Japanese

• 違うちがうJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers the basic sense of differing or being unlike something else. The everyday word for saying two things are not the same, e.g. answering that something is wrong or different from what was expected.
  その点てんでは私は君きみと意見いけんが違ちがう。↗

  I differ from you on that point.
• 異なることなるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbAlso means to differ or vary, with a more formal, written tone suited to describing how opinions, circumstances or figures differ between things. Often the choice for 'differ from' in explanatory prose.
  彼かれらの意見いけんは私のとは異ことなっている。↗

  Their opinions differ from mine.
• 食い違うくいちがうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbRefers specifically to opinions, accounts or facts differing in a clashing or conflicting way, such as testimonies that do not match. Not the neutral word for mere difference; it implies things run counter to each other.
  私わたしたちの意見いけんが食い違くいちがうのはこの点てんです。↗

  It is on this point that our opinions differ.

Use 「違う」 for the everyday sense of being different, 「異なる」 for a more formal statement that things differ or vary, and 「食い違う」 when opinions or accounts clash or conflict.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 違うちがうto differ (from)
• 異なることなるto differ
• 違うたがうto differ
• 異にすることにするto differ (in)
• 相異なるあいことなるto be different (from each other)
• 食い違うくいちがうto differ (e.g. of opinions)
• 掛け違うかけちがうto differ (e.g. of opinions)