Structure
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
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Standard
使用域
一般
About に違いない
When the case marking particle に is combined with the noun 違い '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.
に違いない may be used with any verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns in their plain form.
に違いない may be used with any verbs, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives or nouns in their plain form.
- 彼らは、先生がいなくなったらふざけるに違いない。There is no doubt that they will muck around once the teacher has gone.
- あなたが美味しいというなら、美味しいに違いない。If you say that it is good, I have no doubt that it is.
- タナカ君は全然料理を食べてない。この料理が嫌いに違いない。Takana-kun is not eating his food at all. There is no doubt that he does not like it.
- 今のピンポンは近所の子供のいたずらに違いない。There's no doubt that the doorbell I just heard must have been a prank by the neighbor's kid.
Fun Fact
As に is marking the preceding word in this expression as an existing location (or state), 違いない is stating that no 'variance' exists within that state. This means that the literal translation of に違いない is close to 'there is no discrepancy in (A)'.- あの人はカメラマンに囲まれている、有名人に違いない。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 違いない is a combination of a noun and an い-Adjective, and not the negative form of the う - Verb 違う, which would be 違わない. 違いない translates as 'there is no difference', while 違わない would translate as 'it is not different'.Synonyms
Examples
彼女は病気に違いない。
There is no doubt that she is sick.
現場で彼の髪の毛が見つかったので、彼は犯人に違いない。
His hair was found at the scene. There is no doubt that he is the offender.
あんな転び方をして、痛いに違いない。
Falling in that way, there is no doubt that it hurts.
何回呼び鈴を押しても出てこない。きっと寝ているに違いない。
No matter how many times I ring the bell, they won't come out. I am sure they are sleeping.
あの言い方だと、何か隠しているに違いない。
From the way he speaks, there is no doubt that he is hiding something.
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に違いない
E-Japanese
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Tobira
Page 120
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 304
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 246
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に違いない – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
Johnathan-Weir
Should mention that the formal form of this is に違いありません
veselinve
What is the difference between に違いない vs 違いがない
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