B1 Collocation Neutral

まったく違う

Mattaku chigau

Completely different

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {まったく|まったく} {違う|ちがう} to emphasize that two things have absolutely nothing in common.

  • Means: To be completely different or unrelated.
  • Used in: Comparing opinions, products, or situations.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use '全然' with positive verbs in formal settings.
❌ (A) + ❌ (B) = Totally different

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means 'very different'. Use it when two things are not the same at all. It is easy to use in daily life.
When you want to say two things have no similarities, use 'mattaku chigau'. It is stronger than just saying 'chigau'. It is very common in Japanese conversations.
This collocation is used to emphasize a total lack of resemblance. It is a standard way to express strong contrast in both formal and informal contexts. It is essential for clarifying misunderstandings.
The phrase functions as an intensifier-verb construction, where 'mattaku' serves to negate any potential overlap between two subjects. It is frequently employed in professional discourse to delineate distinct categories or divergent viewpoints, ensuring clarity in complex arguments.
Linguistically, this phrase represents a scalar intensifier modifying a stative verb of difference. Its usage reflects a pragmatic strategy for categorical negation. In advanced discourse, it serves as a rhetorical device to establish absolute boundaries between concepts, effectively neutralizing ambiguity in comparative analysis.
The collocation 'mattaku chigau' exemplifies the Japanese penchant for lexical intensification to achieve pragmatic precision. By employing 'mattaku', the speaker invokes a sense of totality, effectively partitioning the semantic space between two entities. This construction is vital for maintaining discourse coherence when distinguishing between nuanced or seemingly similar phenomena, reflecting a sophisticated grasp of Japanese comparative syntax and rhetorical emphasis.

Significado

Indicating a total dissimilarity or lack of resemblance between things.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Used to maintain clarity in business.

💡

Use it for emphasis

Don't be afraid to use it to be clear.

Significado

Indicating a total dissimilarity or lack of resemblance between things.

💡

Use it for emphasis

Don't be afraid to use it to be clear.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the blank.

この二つは____違う。

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: まったく

Mattaku is the correct intensifier for chigau.

🎉 Puntuación: /1

Ayudas visuales

Preguntas frecuentes

1 preguntas

Yes, to describe personality differences.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

全然違う

synonym

Totally different

Dónde usarla

📱

Comparing two phones

A: この二つのスマホ、どっちがいいかな？

B: 性能が{まったく|まったく}{違う|ちがう}よ。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Mattaku' as 'My-tack-u' (My tack is completely different from yours).

Visual Association

Imagine two identical-looking boxes. You open one to find gold, the other to find sand. They are 'mattaku chigau'.

Story

Ken and Yumi were looking at two paintings. Ken said they were the same. Yumi looked closer and realized the colors and brushstrokes were 'mattaku chigau'. She explained to Ken why he was wrong.

Word Web

全然違う別物対照的全く相違

Desafío

Find two items in your room and describe why they are 'mattaku chigau' in 3 sentences.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Totalmente diferente

Japanese uses the verb 'chigau' while Spanish uses the adjective 'diferente'.

French high

Complètement différent

French requires gender agreement for 'différent'.

German moderate

Völlig anders

German uses 'anders' (otherwise) instead of a direct adjective.

Japanese self

まったく違う

N/A

Arabic moderate

مختلف تماماً

Word order is reversed compared to Japanese.

Chinese high

完全不同

Chinese uses a negative construction rather than a verb of difference.

Korean high

완전히 다르다

Korean uses 'wanjeonhi' which is a cognate to the Chinese 'wanquan'.

Portuguese high

Totalmente diferente

Pronunciation of 'diferente' is distinct.

Easily Confused

まったく違う vs 全然違う

Register difference.

Use mattaku for formal, zenzen for casual.

Preguntas frecuentes (1)

Yes, to describe personality differences.

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