〜に違いない (〜にちがいない): This phrase means you are very sure about something. You have good reasons to believe it.

Dictionary

〜に違いない

This phrase means you are very sure about something. You have good reasons to believe it.

N3 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedConjecture From EvidenceGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + に違いないPrimary

い-Adjective + に違いない

な-Adjective + に違いない

Noun + に違いない

This phrase means you are very sure about something. You have good reasons to believe it.

あの店の前に行列ができている。よほど美味しいに違いない。

There's a line in front of that shop. It must be incredibly delicious.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalFood & Dining Daily Life

財布が空っぽだ。昨夜、飲み会でお金を全部使ってしまったに違いない。

My wallet is empty. I must have spent all my money at the drinking party last night.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life Food & Dining

彼はいつも笑顔だが、本当はそんなに幸せではないに違いない。

He's always smiling, but I'm sure he isn't actually that happy.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEmotions & Psychology

この計画は完璧に違いないが、なぜか胸騒ぎがする。

This plan must be perfect, but for some reason I have a bad feeling about it.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalWork & Career Business & Finance

あの時の彼の様子からして、事件の真相を知らなかったに違いない。

Judging from his demeanor at the time, he must not have known the truth about the incident.

FormalPastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEmotions & Psychology Politics & Law

"〜に違いない" means you feel very sure. "〜はずだ" means you expect something to happen. If it doesn't, you are surprised. "〜に決まっている" is stronger. It means "it's obvious". "〜に相違ない" is a very formal way to say "〜に違いない".

Don't use this when you ask someone else if they are sure. For example, don't say "Are you sure he is the criminal?"

Use this when you want to say you are very sure about something. You have looked at facts. You have thought about them. Now you know it must be true. This makes your words sound strong and certain.

Often confused with(1)

〜はずだ

You use this when you are sure something is true. You have a good reason to believe it. It means 'it should be' or 'I expect that'.

Contrasts with(1)

〜でしょう / 〜だろう

You use this to make a guess. It means 'probably' or 'I think'. You are not very sure.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜に相違ない

This means you are very sure something is true. You have good reasons to believe it. It is like saying, "There is no doubt about it."

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

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Dictionary

〜に違いない

This phrase means you are very sure about something. You have good reasons to believe it.

N3 KMT5FormalStandardAuxiliary ConstructionMixedConjecture From EvidenceGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + に違いないPrimary

い-Adjective + に違いない

な-Adjective + に違いない

Noun + に違いない

This phrase means you are very sure about something. You have good reasons to believe it.

あの店の前に行列ができている。よほど美味しいに違いない。

There's a line in front of that shop. It must be incredibly delicious.

NeutralNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalFood & Dining Daily Life

財布が空っぽだ。昨夜、飲み会でお金を全部使ってしまったに違いない。

My wallet is empty. I must have spent all my money at the drinking party last night.

NeutralPastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalDaily Life Food & Dining

彼はいつも笑顔だが、本当はそんなに幸せではないに違いない。

He's always smiling, but I'm sure he isn't actually that happy.

CasualNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEmotions & Psychology

この計画は完璧に違いないが、なぜか胸騒ぎがする。

This plan must be perfect, but for some reason I have a bad feeling about it.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalWork & Career Business & Finance

あの時の彼の様子からして、事件の真相を知らなかったに違いない。

Judging from his demeanor at the time, he must not have known the truth about the incident.

FormalPastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalEmotions & Psychology Politics & Law

Don't use this when you ask someone else if they are sure. For example, don't say "Are you sure he is the criminal?"

Use this when you want to say you are very sure about something. You have looked at facts. You have thought about them. Now you know it must be true. This makes your words sound strong and certain.

Often confused with(1)

〜はずだ

You use this when you are sure something is true. You have a good reason to believe it. It means 'it should be' or 'I expect that'.

Contrasts with(1)

〜でしょう / 〜だろう

You use this to make a guess. It means 'probably' or 'I think'. You are not very sure.

Less formal alternatives(1)

〜に相違ない

This means you are very sure something is true. You have good reasons to believe it. It is like saying, "There is no doubt about it."

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

〜い / 〜かった

This is the basic form of an い-adjective. It describes a quality of something. You use it for present or past qualities.

〜だ / 〜だった

This means 'is' or 'was'. It is the casual way to say 〜です and 〜でした.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜に違いない

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery

〜に違いない

Patterns4

Meaning

Examples5

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Discourse Function1

Compare with3

Often confused with(1)

Contrasts with(1)

Less formal alternatives(1)

Prerequisites3

Track your mastery