Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 7: 10/21

に違(ちが)いない
There is no doubt that, I'm sure

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb + に違いない
[い]Adjective + に違いない
[な]Adjective + に違いない
Noun + に違いない
Verb + に違いません
[い]Adjective + に違いません
[な]Adjective + に違いません
Noun + に違いません
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When the 格助詞(かくじょし) is combined with the noun 違(ちが)い ‘difference’, and the い-Adjective ない, an expression similar to ‘there is no doubt that (A)’, or ‘I’m sure that (A)’ is created.
に違(ちが)いない may be used with any verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns in their plain form.
  • 彼(かれ)らは、先生(せんせい)いなくなったらふざけるに違(ちが)いない
    There is no doubt that they will muck around once the teacher has gone.
  • あなた美味(おい)しいというなら、美味(おい)しいに違(ちが)いない
    If you say that it is good, I have no doubt that it is.
  • タナカ君(くん)は全然(ぜんぜん)料理(りょうり)食(た)べてないこの料理(りょうり)が嫌(きら)いに違(ちが)いない
    Takana-kun is not eating his food at all. There is no doubt that he does not like it.
  • 今(いま)ピンポンは近所(きんじょ)子供(こども)いたずらに違(ちが)いない
    There’s no doubt that the doorbell I just heard must have been a prank by the neighbor's kid.
Fun Fact
As is marking the preceding word in this expression as an existing location (or state), 違(ちが)いない is stating that no ‘variance’ exists within that state. This means that the literal translation of に違(ちが)いない is close to ‘there is no discrepancy in (A)’.
  • あの人(ひと)はカメラマン囲(かこ)まれている、有名人(ゆうめいじん)に違(ちが)いない
    That person is surrounded by cameramen. There is no discrepancy in that person being famous. (No reason to disbelieve)
Caution
It should be noted that 違(ちが)いない is a combination of a noun and an い-Adjective, and not the negative form of the う - Verb 違(ちが)う, which would be 違(ちが)わない. 違(ちが)いない translates as ‘there is no difference’, while 違(ちが)わない would translate as ‘it is not different’.
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彼女(かのじょ)病気(びょうき)違(ちが)いない
There is no doubt that she is sick.
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現場(げんば)で彼(かれ)髪(かみ)の毛(け)が見(み)つかったので、彼(かれ)は犯人(はんにん)違(ちが)いない
His hair was found at the scene. There is no doubt that he is the offender.
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あんな転(ころ)び方(かた)をして、痛(いた)い違(ちが)いない
Falling in that way, there is no doubt that it hurts.
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Books
Tobira
Page 120
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 304
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 246