differ · violate

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is い, and the kun readings are ちがう, ちがえる. It has 13 strokes and relates to being different or wrong, and violating a rule.
• Basic usage: 違う is read ちがう, and 違反 is read いはん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 違う / 違反
  • 違う means different or wrong and is read ちがう. It describes a color or answer as different or wrong.
  • 私の傘はそれとは色が違う。 means “My umbrella is a different color from that one.”
  • 違反 means violation or breach and is read いはん. It refers to an act or state that breaches a rule.
  • 規則に違反したため試合に出られなかった。 means “A rule violation kept me out of the game.”