違

音読おんよみ: イ

訓読くんよみ: ちがう・ちがえる

画数かくすう: 13

部首ぶしゅ: しんにょう（辶）

Meaning

Different / Wrong / Violate / Mistake.

  • 違ちがう — to differ; be wrong
  • 違ちがえる — to change; to alter; to mistake
  • 相違そうい — difference; discrepancy
  • 違反いはん — violation; infringement
  • 違法いほう — illegal; unlawful
  • 取とり違ちがえる — to mix up; mistake one thing for another

違 combines the “road/walk” radical 辶 with 韋 (イ). The picture is “to go on a different path,” which naturally gives “to differ,” and by extension “wrong,” or “to violate” rules.

異

Think of 異 and 違 together. 異 points to “not the same” — a difference in kind. 違 adds the road radical 辶, suggesting “walking a different path.” Both deal with things not matching, but 違 is closer to “something’s off” or “mistaken” in daily use.

相
Forms

相違そうい — difference; discrepancy

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