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Using 〜に違いない to Express Certainty in Japanese

In Japanese, expressing certainty or strong assumptions is essential for clear communication. One useful expression for this is 〜にちがいない. This grammar structure conveys a high level of confidence about something, often based on reasoning or evidence.


What Does 〜にちがいない Mean?

〜にちがいない translates to “must be,” “surely,” or “there’s no doubt that” in English. It’s used when you are almost certain about something, even without direct confirmation. This expression is often employed in both written and spoken Japanese to convey strong convictions or logical conclusions.


How to Use 〜にちがいない

The structure of 〜にちがいない is as follows:

✅【Noun】【Na-adjective】【I-adjective + にちがいない

✅【Verb (plain form)】 + にちがいない

Examples:

  • Noun
    かれ犯人はんにんちがいない。
    He must be the culprit.

  • Na-adjective
    彼女かのじょ元気げんきちがいない。
    She must be fine.

  • I-adjective
    この問題もんだいむずかしいにちがいない。
    This problem must be difficult.

  • Verb
    かれはもういえかえったにちがいない。
    He must have already gone home.

More Example Sentences

Nouns

  • この料理りょうりつくったひとはプロにちがいない。
    The person who made this dish must be a professional.
  • かれ毎朝まいあさジョギングをしている。健康けんこうちがいない。
    He goes jogging every morning. He must be healthy.

I-Adjectives

  • このケーキはあまいにちがいない。
    This cake must be sweet.
  • この映画えいが面白おもしろいにちがいない。予告編よこくへんただけでワクワクする。
    This movie must be interesting. Just watching the trailer makes me excited.

Na-Adjectives

  • この部屋へやしずかだ。集中しゅうちゅうできるにちがいない。
    This room is quiet. I’m sure I can concentrate.
  • レビューで評判ひょうばんがいいから、このホテルは快適かいてきちがいない。。
    As it has good reviews, this hotel must be comfortable.

Verbs (plain forms)

  • 電車でんしゃおくれている。えきでたくさんのひとっているにちがいない。
    The train is delayed. Surely many people are waiting at the station.
  • そらくらくなってきた。あめるにちがいない。
    The sky is getting dark. It’s surely going to rain.

Summary

  • 〜にちがいない expresses strong certainty or a confident assumption.
  • It can follow verbs, i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and nouns.
  • Often used when making logical conclusions based on observation or context.
  • Stronger than 〜そうだ or 〜らしい, which are based on appearances or hearsay.

By incorporating 〜にちがいない into your Japanese, you can express your thoughts with greater confidence and nuance.

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