異なる

• Reading: ことなる
• Romaji: kotonaru
• Kanji breakdown: 異 (i/koto) — different, unusual, strange
• Pronunciation: /ko.to.na.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To differ; to vary; to be different. Used to describe how things are not the same.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the る row. More formal and written than 違う (chigau). Often used in academic, business, and news contexts. Common patterns: AとBは異なる (A differs from B), 異なる意見 (differing opinions). Unlike 違う, rarely used to mean 'wrong.' Has a neutral, objective tone.

Examples

1. 国によって食文化は大きく異なる。 Food culture varies greatly from country to country.
2. 二つの案は方向性が異なっている。 The two proposals differ in their direction.
3. 異なる視点から問題を考えることが大切だ。 It's important to consider problems from different perspectives.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, business, comparison

Tone: objective

Origin & History

From the kanji 異 (i, different/unusual), which depicts a person wearing a mask — something that looks different from the norm.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal